Ambitious Barker gets taste of Magners
Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:59
Scrumhalf Mark McMillan and lock Tim Barker will both make their competitive return for Glasgow when the Warriors play Newport Gwent Dragons in the opening round of the Magners League at Rodney Parade on Friday.
McMillan returns to the 'Biggest Team in Glasgow' from Wasps, with whom he won the Heineken Cup and Guinness Premiership, whilst Barker pulls on the black and blue jersey having played in Ireland and France with Ulster and Castres respectively.
Since their last game for the Warriors in the then Celtic League, both are anticipating a fierce contest as the competition has continued to go from strength to strength during their brief absence.
Barker said: "I really enjoyed my previous spell with Glasgow, but there's now a greater degree of ambition and anticipation around the squad. The Magners League is now the most closely fought professional league in the world so it's an exciting competition to be involved in."
McMillan added: "I've been very impressed with the changes in both the Glasgow set-up and the level of competition in the Magners League.
"It's going to be fantastic to be part of the team again but it'll also be a tough first game. We've got the Dragons in Europe as well this year so whoever wins on Friday night will have the upper hand not only in our own League battle but our European one also."
Glasgow Warriors: 15 Bernardo Stortoni, 14 Lome Fa'atau, 13 Max Evans, 12 Graeme Morrison, 11 Thom Evans, 10 Dan Parks, 9 Mark McMillan, 8 Johnnie Beattie, 7 John Barclay, 6 Kelly Brown, 5 Alastair Kellock (captain), 4 Tim Barker, 3 Moray Low, 2 Dougie Hall, 1 Justin Va'a.
Replacements: 16 Eric Milligan, 17 Kevin Tkachuk, 18 Opeta Palepoi, 19 Stevie Swindall, 20 Colin Gregor, 21 Andrew Henderson, 22 Ruaridh Jackson.
Date: Friday, September 5
Venue: Rodney Parade, Newport
Kick-off:
19.05 (18.05 GMT)
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Touch judges: Phil Fear (Wales), Phil Connett (Wales)
TMO: Huw Lewis (Wales)
