Jackson in as Glasgow rest Parks

Published on Wednesday 3 December 2008 23:26

GLASGOW are to hand a European debut to Ruaridh Jackson this weekend as they strive to develop the next generation of Scottish stand-off talent.

The position has been a real bone of contention for many years in Scottish rugby with a worrying lack of depth, but Sean Lineen, the Glasgow coach, is confident Jackson is one player with the ability to change that. He has been working with Jackson over the past year and, after turning full-time and performing well in pre-season, the youngster will on Sunday be handed the chance to step up from his utility bench spot to the starting No10 jersey for the Heineken Cup clash with Bath.

The Guinness Premiership outfit sit just a point behind London Irish and Gloucester, and, after winning the European Challenge Cup last season, are gunning for success in the main event this time.

Glasgow, however, have lost their opening rounds to the Dragons and Toulouse and Lineen is taking the opportunity to progress Jackson's development. Parks, who will be rested this weekend, will be 31 by the end of this season while his deputy Colin Gregor will be 28. Jackson, by contrast, is 20.

Glasgow have also registered new signing Jose Maria Nunez Piossek, Argentina's top try-scorer, for the next round of Heineken Cup action, dropping young lock Richie Gray for the next fortnight.

Alongside Piossek's registration is that of four Kiwis – All Blacks Chris Masoe (Castres) and Scott Hamilton (Leicester), and Kiwi David Holwell (Leinster) and Hoani MacDonald (Dragons) – while Frederic Michalal is back with Toulouse after his year in the Super 14 with the Sharks.