Richie Gray ready to take leading Warriors role
Less than a year into his pro rugby career, the soft-spoken Richie Gray is being trusted with vocal responsibility and a battle against Scotland’s favourite rugby motormouth as the Magners League gets under way at Firhill tonight.
Gray in U20s action.
- By Steve Scott, rugby correspondent
- Published in the Courier : 03.09.10
- Published online : 03.09.10 @ 07.49am
The towering Glasgow lock, still only 21, is part of a Warriors pack with an average age of less than 24 and with big names like Al Kellock, Kelly Brown, Johnnie Beattie and John Barclay either gone to pastures new or injured, he is entrusted with a key role in calling lineouts against Leinster, last year's Magners League runners-up.
While taking that role, Gray will also be locking horns with Nathan Hines, the Scottish international and rival for the fast upcoming youngster's role in the national team.
"There's a couple of points to prove there and I'm pretty sure Wagga will have plenty to say as usual," said Gray.
"He likes to get amongst it and to show who is boss, even in training, and I think he sees me very much as a junior partner there, so there's a big challenge to start off with.
"It's been a quick growing up process for me and I've been given this role and asked to be more of a leader on the pitch, but the bottom line is I'm just a young guy who is thriving on playing professional rugby."
Gray's entry into the pro ranks last year proved a revelation as the Warriors went on an unbeaten run just after he made his first start and his athleticism and speed for a big man — 6ft 9in and nearly 20 stone — were a big part of taking Glasgow to the Magners League semi-finals.
However, the toll of his first pro season caught up with the youngster later in the year and he didn't feature in the title run-in and play-off game.
"I think my main aim this year is to have a consistent season, because it did tail off for me a little last year and I can't afford for that to happen," he said.
"But I can't concentrate on myself because I have this role in following Al Kellock who is one of the best lineout callers in world rugby, and it has to be a smooth transition at least until he comes back.
Usually quiet
"Generally I'm quite a quiet guy in training and on the pitch but I am keen to take this responsibility on and do as best as I can."
For the Warriors, even without some big names they have to move forward from last year, he said.
"We had a fantastic season last year and the aim has to be to go further, to the final if possible, even though this is going to be a very tight and tough league
"We were all saying after the final pre-season game that we don't want to lose at Firhill again this season, and that starts with Leinster."
Leinster are without Brian O'Driscoll, Gordon D'Arcy and Jonny Sexton but Lion Luke Fitzgerald makes his return from long-term injury and new signings Isaac Boss and Heinke van der Merwe make their debuts.
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