McGuigan hoping for victorious cup return
SALE Sharks wing Byron McGuigan is hoping to show Glasgow Warriors exactly what they are missing when he takes on his former club in the opening game of the Heineken Champions Cup today.
Steve Diamond’s side will make their first appearance in Europe’s premier competition since 2016/17, after qualifying with a seventh-place finish in the Premiership last term.
McGuigan made 20 league appearances for Glasgow between 2012 and 2014 before moving south of the border, spending time at Exeter Chiefs before finally calling the AJ Bell Stadium home.
And the 30-year-old, who is now really starting to hit his straps in the north west, says he can’t wait to return to Scotstoun Stadium.
“It’s going to be awesome to go back to play against Glasgow,” he said. “There was a lot of banter being thrown about when we got drawn together in the European group stages – obviously I have a few friends there and to get the bragging rights would be awesome.
“It’s really exciting to have this opportunity this weekend to go away and show what we can do.
“The excitement and build-up to European games is different – it’s a different competition and there are different challenges, like going away to Scotland.
“Not many people have been to Glasgow, and there’s a different energy about the competition – it’s nice to have a little break from the Premiership and explore those challenges that lie ahead.
“A lot of the guys we have are very experienced. A lot of them have played Super Rugby and have played in New Zealand and Australia.
“Going up the road to Scotland brings its own challenges but I’m sure it’s something we’re going to be able to adapt to and bring the best out of them.”
Sale have enjoyed a promising start to their Premiership campaign, sitting fourth in the table after picking up victories over London Irish and Wasps.
And McGuigan’s personal form has been cause for optimism, scoring in the team’s opening day defeat to Gloucester. But his attention now turns to European rugby, believing his side have what it takes to deal with the occasion in front of a partisan Scottish crowd.
“As a squad we’ve grown – we’ve just recruited and we’ve got depth, so we should be able to get into this competition now and really show what Sale Sharks are about,” he added. “As a team, we’re all excited that the first game is away from home so we can have a taste for it.
“I’ve been going alright this season personally, but the most important thing is the team is better as a whole. Overall, statistically we’re better than last year, and that’s something we’re going to have to keep growing.”
European rugby’s all-time top try scorer Chris Ashton is named on the bench for the Sharks, while Bryn Evans captains the team from second row alongside James Phillips, who returns to the starting line-up in the absence of Josh Beaumont - who was seriously injured in the win over Wasps.
Fly-half AJ MacGinty starts for the first time since returning from World Cup duty with the USA.
Sale director of rugby Diamond said: “Glasgow have proven to be a top European side over the past few years and rarely lose at Scotstoun.
“We will have to be on our best up there to get a result, especially now they have their Scotland internationals back.”