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Stafford McDowall: 'It’s challenging... Huw and Sione are both unbelievable'

By PA
Glasgow Warriors' Stafford McDowall. (Photo by Bob Bradford - CameraSport via Getty Images)

Stafford McDowall is confident Glasgow can retain their United Rugby Championship title even though he expects the league to be more competitive than ever.

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Three months on from their stunning play-off final victory over Bulls in South Africa, the Warriors begin their URC defence away to Ulster on Saturday.

“Obviously after winning the league last year there’s a massive buzz around the place and we’re really excited to go out and defend our championship,” said centre McDowall.

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“We put a lot of hard work in to win that championship last year and we’re taking it as a privilege that we’ve now got the pressure of defending it. There’s going to be a target on our backs but I think we have to thrive on that.

“We’ve managed to keep most of the same group together so there’s no reason we can’t go back-to-back.

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“The league gets stronger every year, with the South African teams settling properly into the league now after a few years and more and more players joining the league from other leagues, so it is getting harder each year to win it, but we definitely back ourselves.”

McDowall – capped five times by Scotland – is aiming to continue his impressive ascent amid his ongoing battle with established centres Huw Jones and Sione Tuipulotu for game time at both club and international level.

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“I want to keep playing regularly for Glasgow and keep my standard of performance consistent and high,” said the 26-year-old. “And if I’m playing well here, hopefully I can keep pushing for a place in the Scotland squad and the matchday 23.

“It’s challenging because Huw and Sione are both unbelievable players but I like to think they push me on and I push them on. I’d rather be in a place like this than somewhere I was starting every week with no competition.”

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