What does potential Hastings exit mean for Glasgow?

5 days ago 2

BBC Sport Scotland's Andy Burke has been answering some of your Scottish rugby questions.

Keith asked: With the rumoured exit of Adam Hastings to Montpellier, following similar departures by Finn Russell and Tom Jordan, do Glasgow fans have to accept we simply can't afford to keep our fly-halves in Scotland for their prime years? Or is it part of the David Nucifora plan to open up a regular playing spot for the next generation in this critical position?

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Andy answered: Firstly, it will be a real shame to see Hastings depart Glasgow. It's my understanding he will be leaving Scotstoun this summer and it's an undoubted blow as he was just starting to get back to his best after so many injury-blighted seasons.

I think it is driven in part by both the reasons you outline. Hastings will be on a chunky salary and, as we saw with the departures last summer including Jordan, there is only so much money to go around. Glasgow can't retain all their top earners year on year.

The need to promote young talent also necessitates established players to move on. Warriors under Franco Smith are among the best in the business at developing young players and while it's frustrating to see household names depart, the production line at Scotstoun looks pretty healthy right now.

Ethan asked: What should we expect the Glasgow team to play Clermont to look like? A younger team like last weekend against Zebre, or were the 'big guns' rested to go back to back against Clermont and Saracens?

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Andy answered: Definitely the latter. Warriors assistant Nigel Carolan told us as much this week, saying the victory over Toulouse has changed their perspective on the Champions Cup this season and what they might be able to achieve.

Victories over Clermont and Saracens would give Glasgow a fantastic opportunity to top their pool and with that would come a route to a potential semi-final with all their matches at home.

So expect the 'big guns' to return this weekend and the possible return from injury of Huw Jones and Kyle Rowe, who are very close to being match ready.

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