Kelly Brown ready to quit Glasgow for Saracens

The London club recently lost their loose forward Wikus van Heerden, who will return home to South Africa at the end of the season, and see Brown as an ideal replacement. What the London club might not be prepared for is losing Brown to the Scotland squad for international weekends.

Brown has already amassed 30 caps but he has not been a regular in the national starting XV for some time now. All that may change in February because Brown has hit a hot streak of form for Glasgow and, combined with Jason White's broken leg, the international path has opened up once again for the Melrose man.

It's bad news for Glasgow coach Sean Lineen as Brown is not only versatile but one of the pro-team's more durable players and has been part of an outstanding back row alongside John Barclay and Johnnie Beattie.

However Brown's wife is understood to have family in the London area and her preferences may have influenced the player's career decision as well as the money on offer in England. Whatever the reasons, if Brown is headed south, it's a huge blow to Glasgow rugby.