Sale Sharks signing Richie Gray will make immediate impact, says World Cup winner Danny Grewcock

By Ben Baker, Sportsbeat

World Cup winner Danny Grewcock insists that Richie Gray will make an immediate impact and hog the headlines in the Aviva Premiership when he crosses the border to don a Sale Sharks shirt next season.

At 22-years-old Gray is far from being the finished article but with a string of impressive performances for Scotland already under his belt the second-rower has opted to try his hand in the Premiership next season.

Gray’s emergence onto the international scene has coincided with a serious downturn in Scotland’s fortunes, having not won a match since the World Cup against Georgia last autumn.

But Grewcock, a former British and Irish Lion, insists that the towering 6ft10in leviathan has been one of the few bright spots in an otherwise disappointing couple of years for Andy Robinson’s men.

“Scotland haven’t had the best of time of things but I think the performances have warranted better results and one of the keys to this has been the form of Richie,” he said.

“I think Sale will be thrilled that they will be able to call on him next season and he could make a big difference to that side.

“He is young, powerful and enthusiastic and his stature makes sure he doesn’t go unnoticed with his blonde hair and everything that goes with it.

“And the second row for Sale right now is definitely something they could improve and Richie will undoubtedly do that.

“He has shown what he can do for Scotland so I think he will arrive at Sale and just pick up where he has left off.”

Gray has been part of a Glasgow Warriors side that this season look on course to make it through to the RaboDirect PRO12 play-offs for the second time in three years.

And while the Premiership is likely to be a step-up in class for the lock, Grewcock has seen enough in his rampaging performances on both the domestic and international scene to convince him that he can cut it in the English top flight.

“He has been a star performer for Glasgow and obviously a move to the Premiership will be a step up but I am excited to see him on a more regular basis,” added Grewcock, who last week helped to train SSE competition winners Stothert & Pitt Rugby Club in Bath..

“He isn’t afraid to pick up the ball and run with it and he has already built up a good reputation despite his young age and that will surely improve in a Sale shirt.”

Danny Grewcock is an ambassador for SSE Rugby, supporting community rugby clubs in England. Register now on www.sserugby.com to start benefiting from the support and resources on offer, and the chance to win £10,000 of free SSE energy credits for your club.