Glasgow Warriors’ back-row Richie Vernon capped off a frustrating injury-hit season by scoring the Scotland ‘A’ team’s winning try in the IRB Nations Cup final.

However, as he turned 22 yesterday, Vernon spoke to the official Glasgow Warriors website – glasgowwarriors.org – about his ambition for the future as he sat in the sunny city of Pamplona soaking in the sunshine and the near 100 year tradition of the Running of the Bulls.

“I won’t be running with the bulls,” he hastened to say, “I’ll just be watching.”

The Glasgow youngster, who joined the club in summer 2007 from the Border Reivers, is an undoubted talent and one that fuels tremendous competition in Glasgow’s renowned back-row.

The Warriors will return to France at the beginning of August to step-up their pre-season preparations, and although they will not be defending the Challenge Vaquerin crown, Vernon holds good memories of last year’s tour.

“I thought I started well last year on the pre-season tour to France,” he said, “I got a good amount of game-time and I just wanted everything to kick on from there.”

However, despite a promising show in France, Vernon’s season was cut short when he sustained a serious ankle injury whist on duty with the Scotland 7s team at the San Diego Sevens which ruled him out for the rest of the season.

“I was pretty devastated having played well at the two tournaments. I felt I was back on my game ahead of the World Cup and it was doubly frustrating to miss out on the World Cup and the rest of the Glasgow season.”

Now fully recovered from that terrible injury, Vernon has set his sights on a productive pre-season and a successful 2009/10 campaign.

“I feel great. I’ve just been training for the past three months. I also had a holiday but I didn’t really need one!

“Pre-season has been going well, but as I said before, I’ve just been training hard for three months so I feel as fit as ever.

“There’s a great feeling in the squad at the moment and we’re all striving for the same goal.”

Glasgow fans will join Vernon in hoping that the goals for the coming season will be made more achievable with the likes of Chris Cusiter and Rob Dewey returning to Scotland to become Warriors.

“I played with Rob at a few sevens tournament when I was younger and he’s good mates with my older brother.

“Cus was brilliant at the Borders and was outstanding in Romania. It’s exciting to have guys like that coming back.”

The rejuvenated winning mentality of Vernon is something he credits partly to working under the new Scotland head coach Andy Robinson whilst on ‘A’ team duty.

However, with all the talk of Robinson’s work to instil a winning attitude in the players, Vernon made an attempt to explain that term to those that have not had first hand experience of Robinson’s leadership.

“Andy is a very good technical coach and tries to instil a winning mentality and also lets the players play the game.

“I’d love to work with Andy again because he was a back-row player and has a great deal of knowledge and first-hand experience of that position.

“It’s hard to put into words. Everything he does is based on winning. It’s not how you do something but the result you get from it.”

With Vernon fully fit and raring to go ahead of the new season, that new cutting edge is something all Warriors fans will be hoping transfers into the right results for The Biggest Team in Glasgow.

RICHIE VERNON HAS SIGNED… NOW IT’S YOUR TURN
Richie Vernon will be part of The Biggest Team in Glasgow next season and now it’s your turn.

The 2009/10 Glasgow Warriors season ticket has more benefits than ever before. On top of a match-by-match saving of over £100 (based on an adult season ticket), the new deal includes free entry for you and a friend for the pre-season friendly against London Wasps, entry into the ticket ballot for RBS 6 Nations tickets, free admission to the away 1872 Cup match against Edinburgh in addition to two further Edinburgh fixtures at Murrayfield plus free entry into a Partick Thistle league game.

Season ticket holders aged 12 and under will also be entered into the exclusive prize draw to run out with the Warriors as the official mascot at a Glasgow home game.

Season ticket prices remain at just £30 for under 18s with concessions and students enjoying all the action for only £80. Adult season tickets are priced at £160.

Call the ticket hotline on 0844 800 3490 or click here to add your name to the list of signings for The Biggest Team in Glasgow.