THE GLASWEGIAN REPORTS

Dan Parks To End Glasgow Warriors Stay With Summer Move To Rivals Cardiff Blues
Dec 28 2009 By Matthew Leslie

GLASGOW WARRIORS ace Dan Parks is set to stun fans by signing for Magners League rivals Cardiff Blues at the end of the season.

A spokesman for Cardiff refused to confirm or deny the move but our information is that both clubs are said to have agreed a deal which will see the 31-year-old move to Wales before the start of the 2010/11 campaign.

Cardiff's search for a new fly-half has come about due to new signing Sam Norton-Knight failing to settle in at the City Stadium with Blues boss Dai young's patience finally running out.

Parks' future has been questioned given his exclusion from both the Scotland main and 'A' squads this autumn fuelling speculation that Murrayfield beaks have called time on his international career.

Despite being the record Magners League scorer it appears that the fly-half's stay in Glasgow is at an end with Warriors boss Sean Lineen looking towards younger talent.

A Warriors source said: "It would appear the plan is to develop Ruaridh Jackson for the number 10 shirt after new year and once Dan leaves, he will be the club's first choice fly-half which would also put him in line for a Scotland call.

"This would probably allow Glasgow to draft some young talent from the club scene with Duncan Weir from Glasgow Hawks likely to be the preferred option.

"It is a shame for Dan if this move goes through as he has been brilliant for Glasgow and Scotland. Unfortunately there are some Scotland fans who for reasons of their own didn't quite take to him no matter what he did on the pitch."

Australian-born Parks has been a figure of controversy ever since ex-Scotland boss Matt Williams capped him in 2004 thanks to Dan's grandmother being from Ayrshire.

Despite having players from down under being capped for Scotland before like Dan's Glasgow boss Lineen, a slow start ensured the wrath of the Murrayfield boo-boys which has dogged him ever since.

However, his departure will give Ruaridh Jackson the platform to fulfill his own international dreams with many tipping him to be Scotland's best fly-half since Gregor Townsend.

It will also allow Hawks' wonder-kid Duncan Weir the chance to step up a level to prove that he is one for the future.

This article was posted on 28-Dec-2009, 12:38 by Hugh Barrow.