Glasgow kid ready to take on the Welsh
Published on 10 Feb 2012

By BERT MITCHELL

DUNCAN WEIR feels his Scotland RBS Six Nations call-up for the meeting with Wales in Cardiff on Sunday is the ultimate vindication of the toughest decision he has ever had to make.

The 20-year-old was signed by the late Tommy Burns on an S-Form for Celtic almost seven years back.

But, after a year in Paradise, he decided he wanted to chase his rugby dream and turned his back on the Bhoys.

A starring role for Scotland ‘A’ in the thrashing of the English Saxons last Friday saw him bag 20 of the Scots’ 35 points and, following the international retirement of veteran stand-off Dan Parks, Scotland head coach Andy Robinson has called Duncy up for the must-win encounter against Wales.

Following a fine performance last week against England as Parks’ replacement, Greig Laidlaw of Edinburgh will start as stand-off.

But, as he looked forward to Sunday’s clash, Weir admitted the moment he treads the Millennium Stadium’s hallowed turf will be the point he will know he made the right call when he quit the Hoops.

He said: “To get the call-up is just massive and it has taken a couple of days to get my head round it.

“At times like this, you do think back to the big decisions you have had to make, and the biggest one I have made in my sporting career was to leave Celtic and go for rugby.

“That has been on my mind a lot over the last couple of days. Although I have played in some massive games with Glasgow this season already in the Heineken Cup, if I get the chance to come on for Scotland at the Millennium Stadium it will be the biggest moment in my life and also the proudest.

“I think if and, hopefully when, that minute comes and I do run on, that will be the moment for me that I will really know I made the right call seven years back.”

A product of Cambuslang Rugby Club, Weir’s prodigious talent was spotted by former Scotland hooker Peter Wright, and he soon made his way into Wrighty’s Glasgow Hawks side.

 

The teenage stand-off gained a multitude of rave reviews and was then signed by Warriors head coach Sean Lineen.

By the end of the season, he had made his full debut as Dan Park’s reign at No.10 in the black shirt came to an end with his move to Cardiff Blues.

And Duncy revealed that his elevation into the Scotland squad was tinged with emotion at the exit of Parks, who has been his long-term mentor since he first signed for Warriors.

Weir said: “When Andy Robinson flipped over the chart and my name was on it I couldn’t believe it, but then Dan announced his retirement and I was left with my emotions going through the blender.

“Dan has been great with me ever since I signed for Warriors and we had a chat after it and I am not ashamed to admit that tears were shed.

“You look at everything Dan has achieved in the game – he is the RaboDirect Pro 12 record points scorer and has over 60 Scotland caps and was our player of the World Cup in 2007. If I can go on to achieve half of what he has I will be chuffed.

“Now I must focus on doing him proud, and if I play on Sunday his advice will definitely stand me in good stead.”

There will be a Weir clan gathering in Cardiff on Sunday with Duncy’s uncle flying in from the Caribbean to join other family members.

But as he contemplated the enormity of gaining his first cap at Test level, Weir believes he has nothing to be afraid of.

Duncy vowed: “I look back at the European games with Bath and Leinster, Montpellier and the like, and I know I have had some moments when nerves have got to me.

“I also know that going through all of that has given me the education and the experience to make the most of my opportunity with Scotland if it comes on Sunday – and I can’t wait.”

This article was posted on 10-Feb-2012, 14:37 by Hugh Barrow.