Barclay to leave at end of season

Glasgow Warriors have today announced that Scotland back-row John Barclay will leave the club at the end of the season.

The 26-year-old has been with the Warriors since the age of 17, after joining as an apprentice in 2004. He made his debut in the November of that year, as a substitute against the Borders.

Barclay, a classic Scottish open-side flanker, has since made 146 appearances for the Warriors and has amassed 41 caps for Scotland to date, having made his debut for the national side a day after his 21st birthday. He faced Richie McCaw and the All Blacks on his first outing at Murrayfield in the Rugby World Cup.

He said: “The club has been a huge part of my life since I turned professional and I’ve learnt a lot from the coaches and players that I’ve worked with at the Warriors.

“I’d like to thank everyone associated with the club for their support over the last nine years and I’m looking forward to being involved in some big games between now and the end of the season.”

Glasgow Warriors head coach, Gregor Townsend said: “John has been a fantastic player for the club and we would like to wish him all the best for the future.

“He will be with us until the end of the season and is now back to full match-fitness following his recent hamstring injury. It is great to be able to call on a player of his ability and experience for what could be some of the most important games in the club’s history.”

Just saw this, Ulsterman. The silence about his future club implies to me that it may be French as they have a formal ban on announcements until the transfer window opens.

It will be good for him - he is a very experienced international for his age and needs a fresh start to invigorate him as he obviously hasn't been happy at Glasgow for a year now. I would actually prefer him to play for the Tigers, but any top half of the table club in the Top 14 would also be a good move. He's got friends in a lot of the major clubs - Hines at Clermont, Gray at Castres, Hamilton and Beattie at Montpellier so they would seem to be the most logical of bets - however, if Armitage moves from Toulon, they they could probably buy JB with one week's breakfast croissant money.

He is class. Good luck to him - he's been a great servant for the Warriors.

GC +1

As long as he doesn't go to Sale I don't mind!!

Seriously good player, and at 26 he's approaching the peak of his abilities. I'd like to see him in the Aviva, if for no other reason than the fact that I get to see more Aviva action than I do of the French T14.

Leicester would be my preferred option. Great club environment in which to improve, and in Salvi he'd have genuine openside competition to learn from. Still, Clermont, Castres or Montpellier wouldn't be bad options either.

If he went to Clermont he'd be following in the footsteps of Scotland's greatest ever player.

funnyExiledScot wrote:If he went to Clermont he'd be following in the footsteps of Scotland's greatest ever player.

Jason White?

LondonTiger wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:If he went to Clermont he'd be following in the footsteps of Scotland's greatest ever player.

Jason White?

Mark Bennett

LondonTiger wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:If he went to Clermont he'd be following in the footsteps of Scotland's greatest ever player.

Jason White?

Ha, ha - touché, fES!

Do you mean Paul Burnell?

The last of the Killer Bs to Leave Glasgow Warriors. Great player and a thoroughly good guy he owes The Warriors nothing and I know the supporters will want to give him a bloody good send off - Rabo playoff Final !!!!!

John Barclay-when will we see your like again.
He has been a truly magnificent player for Glasgow and has been as loyal a servant as you could wish for.
Let's hope a move reinvigorates him and puts him back in a Scotland jersey.

Lyon is being heavily rumoured on Twa-tter, but that would seems like an odd move - mid-table in D2, no hope of promotion, international career down the pan at 26, unless there's a BIG sum of money involved

Confirmation that it is the Warriors that have chosen not to take up the option to extend JB's contract

Interesting, so it's possible he wanted to stay and they haven't kept him on?

Odd move signing Vernon and not keeping Barclay in which case.

Still, gives Fusaro a clear shot at the jersey, and hopefully Barclay will be starting for an Aviva or T14 side as a consequence.

Any genuine gossip on where he might go? I find it hard to believe that Lyon is a credible option...

I'd heard Leicester mentioned a few times, and Montpellier as well (probably because of the Beattie connection).

Not many genuine international class opensides about, so surely he'll find an Aviva or T14 club to join. Championship or D2 would be a scandal, and ruin his international prospects.

He's 26, so the best years should be yet to come.