THE HERALD REPORTS TODAY

Warriors Swindall, Thomson and Pinder agree to two more years

KEVIN FERRIE, Chief Rugby Writer April 27 2007
The growing belief within the ranks of Glasgow Warriors was demonstrated yesterday as three of their players committed themselves to the club for a further two years.

Sean Lineen, their head coach, is set to bring in several new players ahead of next season, but saw it as equally important to retain those he sees as key squad members.

Steve Swindall and Fergus Thomson, both former Glasgow Hawks players, have established themselves as favourites with Warriors supporters this season. The third of those to re-sign, Sam Pinder, may have beaten both his uncapped colleagues to senior international honours when he played in both Tests in South Africa last summer, but has had a frustrating season, playing second fiddle to Graeme Beveridge - he is leaving the club at the end of the season - before suffering a shoulder injury that required surgery.

advertisement"Steve has been enjoying a rich vein of form in the last two months, having cemented his place in the No.6 jersey," said Lineen. "He has also been rewarded by a place in the Scotland A training squad for the Barclays Churchill Cup in recent weeks.

"Fergus' attitude has been a standout feature this season. He is a real talent and could go all the way to international honours, so I'm looking forward to him and our new signing, Dougie Hall, challenging each other next season.

"Sam is a quality player who has a lot to offer Glasgow in the future. I have no doubt he will hit the ground running when he recovers from his shoulder operation. I'm expecting big things from him."

It remains to be seen how many of the Border Reivers squad, which will be broken up at the end of the season unless a late bid to move them to Stirling proves successful, will be moved to the Warriors.

Lineen has also been working hard to identify experienced recruits who can help develop what remains a youthful squad.

They have four wins in their last five league matches during a run in which they were squeezed out of the European Challenge Cup at Saracens by the narrowest of margins, so tonight's match against Ulster provides the squad, Swindall and Thomson included, with another chance to demonstrate how hard it will be for newcomers to claim first-team slots.

"We've got a run-in of three tough games to finish the season and tomorrow we're up against a side who are gunning for the title," said Lineen. "It couldn't be a tougher end to the season, but we wouldn't have it any other way."

This article was originally posted on 27-Apr-2007, 05:55 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 27-Apr-2007, 05:56.