Duncan Weir: I'd only return to Scotland 'for the right reasons'
Duncan Weir believes the signing of Duhan van der Merwe is a major coup for Worcester Warriors ahead of next season, but remains unsure whether he’ll link up with his Scotland colleague as talks continue about a possible return to Glasgow Warriors.
Weir linked up with van der Merwe on international duty during the Autumn Nations Cup, and got a first-hand glimpse of his attacking prowess.
The stand-off said: “He’s a quality player and he’s the type of X-Factor player that can win a game single-handedly.
“He’s a freak athlete that can change a game and hopefully he can replicate what he’s been doing at Edinburgh, and with Scotland.”
Weir admitted he discussed the club with the South African wing during their time together with Scotland, as he has with prop Rory Sutherland – another player linked with a move from Edinburgh to Sixways this summer.
“I knew there were links but I didn’t know if it was that serious, but it was probably when I came back down to Worcester, the boys here knew more than I did.
“It was just general chit-chat about the club and about life down here, it wasn’t laying anything on the table.”
Looking at his own future, Weir – who joined Worcester in 2018 after two seasons with Edinburgh – spent eight years at Glasgow, helping them to the 2015 Pro12 title and insists he wants to be able to ‘chew their hand off’ but any potential return would have to tick the boxes for Weir on the pitch and for his wife and family.
“I want to go for the right reasons and make sure I go back to play a part at the club if I do go back.”
If he is to swap Sixways for Scotstoun, the 29-year-old believes he’ll return north of the border a better player.
“I feel like I’m seeing the game better and reading things better on the field.
“I’m a good age now, I’ve got lots of experience and I feel like my best rugby is around the corner.
“The Premiership is arguably the hardest league in the world to play in and the level of competition down here means if you hold your own, it stands you in good stead going into Test rugby.
“When you look at each team’s squad, there are English superstars but there’s a sprinkle of international world-class there as well.”
With two young children to look after, Weir lauded the support of his wife Nicola and insisted his family are happy where they are, and he’s in discussions with Worcester about extending his time at Sixways.
“We’ve got a nice bubble of friends down here and we’ve bought a house here as well, so we’re really happy here and I’m under no pressure from my family to jump at any opportunity to move home.
“My wife is by herself looking after the kids when I’m at training, so I’ve probably got an easier job. I’ve got her full support, and we know home will always be there post-rugby whenever that time comes.”
Weir admits he has been “blown away” by the support of his fundraiser for Acorns Children’s Hospice, which has raised more than £16,000 for the charity.
“I think just because of how mental my hair was, it got people’s support.
“It’s breath-taking how people got behind it.”
Comments on RugbyPass
We’re building a bridge but can't agree where the river is.
2 Go to commentsfirst no arms shoulder or helmet tackle into his rib cage is going to be so very painful even to watch. go back to RU mate.
2 Go to commentsBulls by 5. Plus another 50.
3 Go to commentsJohan Goosen avatar. Cute. Surely someone at RP knows how to do a google image search?
3 Go to commentsCan’t these games play a little earlier? Asking for a friend.
3 Go to commentsIt’s impressive that we can see huge stadiums with attendance in the 40 000 to 50 000 region. It shows how popular this competition is becoming. What is even more impressive is the massive growth in broadcast viewership. The URC is one of the two best leagues in the World, the other being the Top14.
7 Go to commentsChristie is not Sottish, like the majority of the Scotland team.
2 Go to commentsHold the phone, decline over-rated. Is it a one game, dead cat bounce or the real thing? Has the Penney dropped? Stay tuned.
45 Go to commentsTotally deserved win for the Crusaders Far smarter than the Chiefs who seem to be avoiding the basics when it matters Hotham showed them what was missing and Hannah seems a real find - a tad light but that can be fixed over time
8 Go to commentsGreat insight into the performance culture with Sarries and I predict Christie will be a fixture in the Scotland team now for some time to come. However, he is slightly missing his own point around Scotland “being soft” when he cites physicality examples in defence of that slight. The issue is much closer to the example he referenced around feeling off before a game but being told “it doesn’t matter, you can still play well” by Farrell. Until Scotland can get their psyche in that square, they will carry on folding under extreme pressure…
2 Go to comments> We are having to adapt, evolve and innovate more than when we were in Super Rugby where there was only really one style that everybody had to play to gain the most success. Have = able to? Interesting what that one style might be? I thought SA sides still had bad tours now, or at least bad schedule, months away? Those extra few hours flights have to be a killer though, no surprise to see their sides doing so badly at the start of the season each year. I wouldn’t enjoy that unfairness as a supporter.
7 Go to commentsThe problem for NZ, and Aus, is they ripped up the SR model and lost a massive chunk of revenue that hasn’t been replaced. Don’t forget SA clubs went North because they were left with no choice, Argy unceremoniously binned and Japan cast adrift. Now SR wasn’t perfect, far from it, but they’ve jumped into something without an effective plan, so far, to replace what they’ve lost. The biggest revenue potential now lies in Japan but it won’t be easy or quick to unlock, they are incredibly insular in culture as a nation. In the meantime, there is a serious time bomb sitting under SH rugby and if it happens then the current financial challenges will look like a picnic. IF the Boks follow their provincial teams and head north then it’s revenue meltdown. Not guaranteed to happen but the status quo is a very odd hybrid, with the Boks pointing one way and the clubs pointing the other way. And for as long as that remains then the threat is real.
45 Go to commentsI think Etene has had some good tuition, likely while at the Warriors to be a professional that helped his rugby jump, but he was certainly thrown in the deep end way too early. Should have arguably 20 less SR caps, and therefor a way better record that he does at his age, but his development would have been fast tracked by the need to satiate his signing away from league. Again, credit to him and others that he has done it so well. Easy to fall over under that pressure in the big leagues like that but he kept at it when I myself wasn’t sure he was good enough.
1 Go to commentsAwesome story. I wonder what a bigger American (SA) scene might have mean for Brex.
1 Go to comments“Johnny McNicholl and the Crusaders” save a Penney. Who has been in camp this week and showed them how to play?
8 Go to commentsSo, reports of the Crusaders’ demise / terminal decline are perhaps just - slightly - premature/exaggerated…? 🤔 Will we see a deep-dive into that by the estimable Rugbypass scribes, and maybe one or two mea culpas? Thought not.
8 Go to comments1. The Chiefs are rudderless without DMac, which enhances his AB chances 2. Chiefs pack are powderpuffs. The hard men arent there anymore 3. They had their golden title chance last yr and wont threaten this yr. Gone in second round of playoffs.
8 Go to commentsHonestly, why did you have to publish such a foolish article the day they play us? 😂
45 Go to comments> They are not standalone entities. They are linked to an amateur association which holds the FFR licence that allows the professional side to compete in the league. That’s a great rule. This looks like the chicken or egg professional scenario. How long is it going to be before the club can break even (if that is even a thing in French rugby)? If the locals aren’t into well it would be good to se them drop to amateur level (is it that far?). Hope they can reset from this level and be more practical, there will be a time when they can rebuild (if France has there setup right).
1 Go to commentsWhat about changing the ball? To something heavier and more pointed that bounces unpredictably. Not this almost round football used these days.
35 Go to comments