Scotland's Gregor Townsend confirms Tom Jordan Glasgow exit
Gregor Townsend backed Tom Jordan to keep going from strength to strength after the new Scotland recruit agreed to join Bristol next season – a move exclusively reported by Neil Fissler in RugbyPass this week.
The New Zealand-born 26-year-old has burst onto the international scene in impressive fashion this month after becoming eligible following five years of residency in Scotland with Ayrshire Bulls and current club Glasgow.
It emerged this week that versatile back Jordan – a stand-off who has played at full-back in his first two Test outings against Fiji and South Africa – will sign for Bristol next summer, although the deal is yet to be officially confirmed by either club.
“I knew about it last week,” said Scotland head coach Townsend of Jordan’s impending move. “I know he had a big decision to make last week, and he’s obviously thought about it a lot and then informed Glasgow.
“But he managed to put that decision, which must have been really tough for him, to one side and deliver a very good performance (against South Africa).”
Townsend acknowledged Jordan’s departure will be a blow for Glasgow but believes it reflects well on Scotland that several of their players, including recently-appointed captain Sione Tuipulotu, have attracted interest from elsewhere.
“Yes, it’s a positive that players are getting offers from other clubs,” he said.
“It’s not so much a positive if players are leaving, but two weeks ago, Sione was announced as staying at Glasgow, so that was a key signing for Glasgow.
“I know Glasgow will be disappointed to lose someone of Tom’s ability and his versatility, but we have players who play outside of Scotland and perform well for us at national level. I’m sure Tom will continue to grow wherever he plays next year.
“I’m sure he’ll keep pushing himself over this next period in our camp. But also when he’s back at Glasgow to get better and better.”
Jordan is the only player who started against South Africa to retain his place for Saturday’s match against Portugal after Harry Paterson, who was due to start at full-back this weekend, got injured in training on Wednesday.
Glasgow lock Alex Samuel and Edinburgh back-rower Ben Muncaster will both make their Test debuts, while Glasgow centre Stafford McDowall will skipper the side, assisted by vice-captains Luke Crosbie and George Horne.
Other notable inclusions are Sale wing Arron Reed and front-rowers Paddy Harrison and Will Hurd, who are all set to win their third caps, while Northampton centre Rory Hutchinson makes his first appearance since the 2022 summer tour of Argentina.
Arguably the most eye-catching name on the team-sheet, however, is Freddy Douglas, the 19-year-old Edinburgh back-rower who has never played a competitive game at club level but is in line to become Scotland’s youngest debutant since 1963 if he gets off the bench.
“We want him to just deliver and play the game that we’ve seen him play at Under-20s for Scotland, and also Edinburgh A, and how he’s trained with us,” Townsend added.
“He has got the mindset we believe that is ready for Test rugby. We see it as an opportunity for him. We believe in what he can bring to our team this weekend but also in the future.”
In this episode of Walk the Talk, Jim Hamilton chats with double World Cup winner Damian de Allende about all things Springbok rugby, including RWC2023 and the upcoming Ireland series. Watch now for free on RugbyPass TV
NZ lost a great player there. Played brilliantly for Glasgow and against SA was the best player on the pitch. Caused the Boks some headaches. Slot him into the current AB's team, and they would be very dangerous, especially broken play.
However, the Scots isn't stupid and their recruiting from the SH countries is starting to pay off. They don't have the player pool the SH countries have, nor that of their neighbours even.
I applaud them for being so open-minded as giving those players who have loyally played their rugby in Scotland for years a chance. SA for one have such a vast pool of players that's so talented and could be world class given the smallest chance, but will never get a look in because there is just so many stars in the country.
I don't mind that Saffas play for other countries to further their own careers. Besides, it makes Scotland better and makes for one more team to step up to the big stage and make rugby more exciting than just the top 4 that usually wins.
Scotland may have lost by 17 against a rusty Bok "B" team, but that score is not a true indication of that match. The Scottish biggest mistakes was kicking at goal the entire time, instead of going for the jugular. If they tried to go for tries, they may have been stopped and the score might have been bigger, but the game was on such a knife edge, that if they did go for it, they might have scored a couple of tries or more and we very well might have seen a Scottish upset.
It was by no means a bad effort at all. Tom Jordan is one of their best new talents coming through. He should've stayed with Glasgow. What a loss for the URC Champs. Going to Loftus and getting one over the Bulls is something that not even the so called best team in club rugby could do. Leinster keeps losing at Loftus. For Glasgow to do that in a Final was phenomenal and Tom Jordan was no small part of that feat.
Rugby is truely becoming a global sport now, where the eligibility rules is making rugby a much smaller world, but a much bigger global game. The Scots is most likely the team with the most aliens in their team. They welcome players with open arms. I applaud that. They are a sleeping giant, and if they continue playing like they did against the Boks, despite the results, they will become a real threat for 2027.
I admired how they played. They impressed everyone. I say good on them. Results will come if they continue on their upward trajectory. I wish them and Tom Jordan all the luck they deserve.
20 foreign born players in Scotlands 2024 6 nations squad.wat an absolute joke.so Scottish born players only play club rugby and representative rugby while only foreign born players play international rugby for Scotland.😂
Good comment. Sad in many ways to see TJ leave but there’s always an upside when this happens because the players pick up their wages elsewhere and free the cash and playing spot for the next man up. And with only two pro teams, this is a necessity for Scottish rugby.
Kiwi player moves to Scotland for an opportunity at playing pro rugby. Stays for five years. Becomes "scottish". Moves to England. Remains a scottish international. Great summary of the state of international rugby and eligibility laws these days.
I do not understand this attitude at all. How is it not a good thing for Scotland to have players from overseas?
Players who might not get to play international rugby get a chance to do so.
Scotland get a higher standard of rugby, are better opposition that makes the games more competitive that means the sides Scotland play against have to get better…
See how this works?
Look at Jamison Gibson Park. We laughed our arses off in NZ when he first got picked for Ireland because he couldn’t even get a starting role in SR.
But he got an opportunity and became arguably the best half back in the game next to DuPont.
As for “they aren’t Scottish”, well humans have been migrating around the place for many thousands of years.
Get with the times.
‘Twas ever thus for NZ and Aus, just allows the rest to do so as well now…