Scott Cummings ready to fight for starting spot for Glasgow despite return of Richie Gray and Leone Nakarawa

The first time Scott Cummings met new team-mate Richie Gray was at Jordanhill School in Glasgow’s West End. It seems a lifetime ago: the peroxided Gray was in his final year at school, playing for the first team, starring for Scotland’s age-grade sides, and already tipped to become one of Scotland’s great second rows. Cummings, meanwhile, was in Primary 7.

They say you should never meet your idols, yet since Gray arrived back at Glasgow Warriors from Toulouse as new coach Danny Wilson’s first signing, Cummings has not only had to meet him but to butt heads on the training pitch. With over 50 Scotland caps to his name and the distinction of being the last Scot to win a Lions cap, the 30-year-old is a formidable challenger for Cummings. Throw in the return of former European Player of the year Leone Nakarawa in January and Cummings clearly has his work cut out. Three into two doesn’t go.

“There are six really high-quality second rows pushing each other, so there’s great competition for places,” says Cummings, who says he is determined to complete his transition into the complete second row by mastering the dark arts employed by veteran team-mates Rob Harley and Ryan Wilson.

“Richie has been in my training group so I’ve got to know him really well. He’s really experienced and is very much like Jonny as they’re both pretty quiet guys, but when he talks you listen because you know he has something good to say. He’s brought a lot back from France, especially from the Toulouse lineout.”

Last season was Cummings’ breakthrough, with the 23-year-old not just being named Glasgow’s Player of the Year but also establishing himself as first choice with Scotland, starting all four Six Nations games before the lockdown intervened. His dynamism and mobility make him perfect for Glasgow’s fast, expansive game, although those are also traits which Gray and Nakarawa once had in spades.

“I grew up as a Glasgow fan, so I remember Richie breaking onto the scene and playing really well, and I was here during Leone’s first stint,” says the lock. “I made my debut in [September] 2015, which was Leone’s last season prior to leaving, so I got to play with him as I was breaking into the squad. These were guys I was watching as a fan. I still remember going to Firhill and watching the games. It’s great to now be able to play alongside them.”

With two 1872 Cup matches against Edinburgh this month, Glasgow Warriors will need a statistical miracle to make the semi-finals. Cummings knows that his first task, however, is to make the team.