New Scarlets signing John Barclay confident Welsh rugby can cope with player ...

New Scarlets signing John Barclay believes Welsh rugby can cope with the exodus of star players because of the conveyer belt of young talent coming through.

The 41-times capped Scotland flanker is something of a modern-day rarity, as an international coming into Wales rather than leaving one of the regions.

Lions heroes George North, Jamie Roberts and Dan Lydiate are the latest big names to head out of the country, following in the footsteps of Mike Phillips, James Hook, Luke Charteris and others.

But back-rower Barclay – who has joined the Scarlets on a three-year deal from Glasgow just as North departs for Northampton – has no worries about the state of the Welsh regional game.

“You come down here and the thing that strikes me is how many people are worried about players leaving and the exodus,” said the 26-year-old.

“But there’s so many young guys. There’s a conveyer belt of young talent down here which I don’t think is the case in Scotland maybe.

“When you watch Wales, every year there seems to be another 18 or 19-year-old who has burst onto the scene.

“It wasn’t that long ago that was George – and I am sure there are a lot of these guys waiting in the wings.

“I watched a couple of the Wales Under-20s games last month and there’s a lot of talented boys there. It’s kind of scary actually.”

While the loss of Lions wing North will have come as a blow to Scarlets supporters, Barclay is convinced the region is in pretty good shape overall.

“The Scarlets beat Glasgow twice last season and I kept a track on the guys who were staying,” he said.

“The core of the squad are still very young and there’s a lot of local guys that are passionate about the club and that’s what you need to drive a club like this forward.

“Hopefully I can be part of that.”

Hong Kong-born Barclay was raised in Stirling and attended the nearby Dollar Academy where he captained the rugby team to victory in the Scottish Schools Cup final in 2004.

The following year he joined Glasgow, going on to make his Scotland debut in 2007, establishing a reputation as a real breakdown scavenger and a fine athlete.

Now, after eight seasons with Glasgow, he has decided to head for west Wales.

“When I had a look around and the Scarlets came up, it was one that really grabbed me,” he revealed.

“I could see there was a bright light there for me to think about.

“I always found the Scarlets a tough team and a tiring team to defend against. I felt this could work for me, at a club that’s got so much history and tradition.

“The way they play was something that really appealed to me as well.

“I felt I was playing some of my best rugby for a long time towards the end of last season.

“I am looking forward to bringing that form here and being involved with different players and a different style of play which should freshen things up and invigorate me.”

The 6ft 3ins, 16st 1lb openside will be working under a former flanker in Scarlets director of rugby Simon Easterby, and he much prefers that prospect to lining up against the former Ireland back rower.

“I used to hate playing against him,” he admitted. “He was just like a dog.

“He was coming towards the end of his career when I played against him.

“He’d done his knee in a couple of times and he had maybe lost a yard in pace, but he certainly made up for it in other ways.

“I was just 18 or 19. I used to see I was playing against the Scarlets and I’d think ‘oh no.’

“He was just a nightmare. He was holding you and pulling you and winding you up and stuff.

“So I’m sure there’s some tricks to be learned off him!”

Barclay underwent surgery to repair some wear and tear to his shoulder at the end of last season, which meant him missing Scotland’s summer tour, but he is set to be ready to make his Scarlets debut in mid-September.

Article source: http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentonline/news/Englands-Wheelchair-Rugby-League-World-3058/

No related posts.

New Scarlets signing John Barclay confident Welsh rugby can cope with player ...