PRE-MATCH SICKNESS A GOOD THING FOR FUSARO

ON the brink of his 150th appearance for Glasgow Warriors, Chris Fusaro allowed himself a moment to reminisce on the highs, lows and the unique pre-match routine which has stayed with him over his nine seasons at the club. The 29-year-old is due to reach the milestone against Munster on Saturday and, even after the best part of a decade, the flanker revealed he has not been able to shake one very particular preparation method. ‘It’s funny but I still occasionally spew up (before a game),’ said the Scotland cap. ‘When I start a game, I still spew. ‘It’s part of my make-up unfortunately. I wish I could do something to stop it but I guess, for me, it means I’m ready for a game. If I’ve thrown up, it’s just my coping mechanism. ‘If I’m honest, I’m more relaxed when I’m on the bench, so I haven’t spewed as much. But when I start, you still get the same excitement and the same feeling that I’m getting. I know a lot of players say it but when that goes, you know the time is right to hang up the boots. ‘But I’m still loving every game and as you get older, you appreciate games more because you know you are getting closer and closer to your last one. ‘I’m 29, but there’s guys like Matt Fagerson who is 19 and he’s got 20-30 appearances for Glasgow already, so it has shifted. Boys are starting younger these days. Like I say, I’m clinging on and, hopefully, I will for another couple of years.’ Coming through the ranks at Fife with fellow Warrior Peter Horne, Fusaro (right) joined Glasgow in 2010 and was part of a generation of players who were at the centre of rebuilding the club’s reputation. ‘I guess it was just taking every opportunity, but after my first season we came 11th and the core group of guys sat down that preseason and said we didn’t want that to happen again,’ said Fusaro, who was part of the 2015 title-winning squad under Gregor Townsend. ‘It was embarrassing to come 11th in the league and that was it. We made a pact to do whatever we needed to start climbing and things just clicked. We did well and the young guys that got a chance took it and helped bolster the squad, so we began the journey.’