Walker targets return after agreeing deal

HIGHLY rated Scotland prop Murphy Walker has agreed a new contract with Glasgow Warriors.

The 24-year-old hasn’t played for Warriors since December 22 with injuries hampering his progress, although he did play for Scotland last summer against Italy.

His last match for Glasgow came against Edinburgh as a replacement and it’s not been an easy ride for him since despite being viewed as a top prospect in the front row for Scotland. He’ll stick around at Glasgow Warriors for a while yet though with Franco Smith delighted to keep hold of him, and Walker admits it was an easy choice for himself too.

He said: “It was an easy decision to re-sign with the club, really. It’s been a strange couple of years, as it’s been so long since I’ve played a professional game for the club because of injury lay-offs and so on, but at the same time I’ve played for Scotland last summer and been involved with the A team.

“The overriding emotion for me when it comes to the last two years as a Warrior has probably been frustration to be honest, just because of the run of injuries and when they’ve come about, so when it came to it, renewing was such a straightforward decision.

“I want to put my best foot forward, and I feel like I owe everyone from the boys to the coaches to the supporters and show them all what I can do and what I’ve been working on.”

Warriors head coach Smith added: “We are pleased to have secured Murphy’s services for another couple of seasons.

“Whilst he has endured his share of bad luck with injuries, he has worked extremely hard with our medical and S and C [strength and conditioning] teams to get back to full fitness and put himself in the best possible position.

“He has shown he is willing to do whatever it takes to become the best version of himself on and off the field, and we look forward to continuing to work with him.”