ALL BLACK FLYNN IN AT GLASGOW
GLASGOW WARRIORS have agreed a deal to sign former All Black World Cup winner Corey Flynn. The 35-year-old hooker has signed a two-year contract and will join next season after completing his stint at Toulouse. Flynn’s arrival will provide undoubted experience, but he comes into a position where Glasgow are already strong, with five hookers currently on the books at Scotstoun. It will mean that at least one of Pat MacArthur, Shalva Mamukashvili, Fraser Brown, Kevin Bryce and James Malcolm will have to move on, with the Georgian the most likely candidate. The Warriors will be hoping Flynn can help develop the likes of Malcolm into a Test contender. The New Zealander spent 13 years at the Crusaders from 2002, collecting 150 Super Rugby caps, making him the fifth-most experienced player in the history of the championship. He was also part of the All Blacks squad which won the World Cup on home soil in 2011 — despite playing just eight minutes in the whole tournament — and amassed 15 caps for his country, never losing a game. ‘When I played at Scotstoun last season, the atmosphere was fantastic and it shows the club has a really good support base,’ he said. ‘I jumped at the chance to join the Warriors after chatting to Gregor Townsend. I’m good friends with Sean Maitland, too, and he couldn’t say enough good things about Glasgow. ‘I want to do my best to help the young hookers at the club by passing on my experience and helping them come to terms with professional rugby in a similar role to the one I had at the Crusaders.’