Gordon Bulloch, Scotland’s most-capped hooker, will return from the British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand as a Leeds Tykes player.

Bulloch, 30, has agreed a two year contract with the Premiership club and will thus end his Glasgow attachment which began in the amateur era.

Bulloch, who won his 75th cap against England two months ago, said: “I have had ten years with Glasgow Rugby in one guise or another and, like all good things it has come to an end. I’m very much looking forward to the Lions tour and then all the excitement that joining a club with the drive and ambition of Leeds Tykes will bring.

“Obviously it’s hard to leave my home city and I’d like to thank my agent Shaun Longstaff for all he’s done to secure this opportunity for me.”

Scotland’s acting Director of Rugby, Richie Dixon, who coached Bulloch at both international and pro-team level, said: “Gordon has given ten years of dedicated service to Glasgow Rugby and he has been an outstanding personality for Scottish Rugby. I wish Gordon all the very best in his move to Leeds and look forward to his continuing contribution to Scottish Rugby.”

Leeds Tykes Director of Rugby Phil Davies added: “Gordon is a world-class player who has performed at the highest level. At 30, Gordon is still in his prime as a front rower and we are excited about him joining our current group of players and adding his experience to the blend that we already have.

“Gordon is a player I have admired for a number of seasons and it is great that he is looking forward to joining us after the Lions tour. We have a tough year ahead of us next season, with a highly competitive Guinness Premiership campaign alongside our entry into the Heineken Cup and the capture of a player of the calibre of Gordon is a massive boost to those aims.”

Competing to fill Bulloch’s place with Glasgow Rugby are Scott Lawson and Fergus Thomson. Both are graduates of Scotland’s age-group sides and members of the Scottish Institute of Sport. Lawson has been named in the Scotland side for next Tuesday’s meeting with the Barbarians in Aberdeen.

This article was originally posted on 19-May-2005, 14:37 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 19-May-2005, 14:38.