Sean Lamont believes return to Glasgow can spark final flurry of success

HE MAY not be back in a navy Glasgow jersey as quickly as his brother, but one of Scotland’s most consistent performers has pledged to join him next year in playing his part in a new push for success in Scottish rugby.

On Sunday, Rory Lamont scored his first try for Glasgow since being released by Toulon and rejoining the club a fortnight ago, and his brother Sean confirmed yesterday that he will this time follow his younger sibling north next summer. In 2003, it was Sean who signed for the Warriors under then head coach Hugh Campbell with Rory, 21 months his junior, following the next year at the request of Sean Lineen.

The Lamonts had moved south at the age of ten and 11 respectively when their parents separated but, studying at King Edward VII School in Melton Mowbray, were pointed in the direction of Scotland by their stepfather, who even rung up then Edinburgh coach Frank Hadden to ask him to put a word in for Sean for the Scotland sevens squad. His rise then was rapid.

Sean played for Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in 2002 and joined Glasgow from Rotherham in the summer of 2003. He went on to score 24 tries in 42 Celtic League and Heineken Cup games, made his debut for Scotland on the Australia tour in 2004 and scored his first try against Queensland Reds.

He became the 30th Scot to reach the 50-cap landmark when he faced Samoa in Aberdeen last November, and made it 60 in the final pool match of the Rugby World Cup.

He was named The Famous Grouse Scotland Player of the Season in 2007, the first out-and-out wing to win the prize in the award’s 11 seasons, but then suffered a serious knee ligament injury that kept him out of the game for most of the 2007-8 season.

He took time to regain his form in 2008-9, admitting that he heaped on more weight to cope with the power game, but lost speed and evasive skills. Since the autumn of 2009, however, no player has featured in more Scotland Test matches, and only Allan Jacobsen and Ross Ford have played in the same amount.

So, unlike his brother Rory, he does not need to return to Scotland primarily to win back a Test place, but he insisted that playing for Scotland sat alongside doing well for Glasgow as twin attractions.

Having spent four years avoiding, succumbing to and recovering from relegation in the English Premiership with Northampton, and two seasons trying but failing to reach the Celtic League play-offs with the Scarlets, Lamont believes a final three years back in his homeland could bring the success he has yearned for.

“I’m delighted to be coming back to the Warriors,” he said, before heading out with his Scarlets team-mates for a final Christmas night-out in south Wales.

“My focus right now is on the Scarlets and will be 100 per cent to the end of the season, but I am excited about the move back to Glasgow.

“They’re a fantastic club with a great team environment, a hugely talented squad and a very clear idea of where they want to go in the coming years.

“I’ve heard all about the plans to keep developing Glasgow on and off the field, and can’t wait to have a look around Scotstoun Stadium, where we’ll be playing our games next year.

“The club have clearly come a long way since I was last involved, and I’m thrilled at the prospect of playing my part in helping them write the next few chapters in the story.”

Sean Fergus Lamont was born in Blairgrowrie and only left when his parents separated and he headed south with his mother and Rory to Leicestershire. Rory was in the Northampton academy system when he jumped at the chance to follow Sean to Glasgow, and return to their Scottish roots.

Then Sean was a tall, at 6ft 3in, but relatively slim and evasive back who was exceptionally quick over distance. He bulked up and became the kind of hard-hitting, powerful ball-carrier that all teams were seeking for their back division, and came to the attention of clubs across England and France before opting for Northampton.

Despite playing in sides struggling for victories, he scored 15 tries in 41 matches with the Saints and 20 in 62 for the Scarlets.

The Lamont brothers insisted that they would have made the move irrespective of what the other was doing, but Sean acknowledged that it was a bonus to be linking up again with his brother.

“It will be fantastic to be back at the same club as Rory. We both took huge pride in wearing the Glasgow jersey a few years ago, and it will be something really special to be pulling it on together once again,” he said. “I’m pleased to have my future sorted out in such a positive fashion, but for now it’s about putting the move to one side and giving my all for Scarlets during the rest of the campaign. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed playing for the club, and they’ve been great to me and my family.”

Glasgow are currently on an unprecedented run of nine wins in ten games, their 13-13 draw in Montpellier at the weekend keeping alive hopes of reaching the quarter-finals of the Amlin Challenge Cup if not the Heineken Cup if they can claim points from their remaining games with Leinster and Bath in January.

Their next match, however, is at Murrayfield, where Edinburgh host the first leg of the 1872 Cup on Boxing Day with league points on offer.

Mark Dodson, the SRU chief executive, is hopeful that the Lamonts signing will enable Glasgow to maintain their drive to be among the top sides in the Celtic league and push for European honours in the coming seasons, as well as attract more people through the turnstiles.

He added: “This is another very encouraging piece of news for the Warriors and Scottish Rugby [the SRU] in general. Sean is an important part of the national team set-up who will be a real asset for Glasgow going forward.

“The Warriors have performed well so far this season, and we’re delighted to support their efforts to keep improving.”