THE Glasgow Warriors support was out in force in the city's George Square on Thursday night to celebrate the team's PRO12 victory at the end of last season, but the players and coaches themselves now have their thoughts firmly focused on the next campaign.
After a 10-day break, those players not in the Scotland squad for the Rugby World Cup began pre-season training on Wednesday, the 22 named by national coach Vern Cotter will start their preparations on Monday, and Gregor Townsend has all but finalised his summer recruitment plans.
Several new signings will be announced, probably next week, and once they are in place the head coach will be satisfied that he again has the size and depth of squad to compete in the league, even though many key players will be missing for much of the autumn. And, while those new signings may initially be viewed as squad members rather than first-team regulars, Townsend will urge them to follow the example of Finn Russell, who broke into the team during the 2014 Six Nations and then took a firm hold on his place.
"We are still to announce a few signings, but from a recruitment point of view we are pretty much sorted," Townsend said. "There are a couple still to be announced, but we are very comfortable with the squad we have and delighted with what we have been able to put together.
"Who knows? If injuries happen or all 22 of the Scotland players get called up for the World Cup final squad then there might be some contingencies we need to look at, but we're delighted with the group.
"With players being away it's an opportunity for someone else. Finn Russell got his chance during the Six Nations last year and then played in the [PRO12] semi-final and the final. We're now looking for the next player who will get his opportunity during the World Cup to say 'I've got to be picked for the whole season'.
"Our whole recruitment is based on getting a quality team to play the biggest games, but also enough players to get through that period. I think our squad's going to be 55 strong, which is 11 more than last year.
"But during the World Cup it will be down to 32, 33, so we know there are potential risks there. If we do pick up injuries we might have to look at club players coming in to cover that, but 32, 33 should be fine over that period."
A 10-day break may seem less than generous given the toll that professional rugby takes on players' bodies, but Townsend explained that a longer holiday is on the cards for next month. "We'll have time off in July. It worked really well for us last year - the guys came back fitter and stronger given their holiday later.
"Normally you would give four or five weeks straight off and then train all the way through. We've had 10 days to recover, but then three and a half weeks.
"It worked really well last year. We found last year they came in, they didn't get much of a holiday but they were keen to train, they saw their body shapes changing for the better - and then when they got the holiday they didn't want to lose that, so they kept topping it up. And when we fitness tested two or three players at the end of the first block, they went for the holiday, they came back, and then they were getting better results.
"We'll see if any other team does it after us. But we certainly think it works."
Having almost a full matchday squad away on international duty is clearly a big challenge, even to a team with as many players as Glasgow. But Townsend is sure that their absence with Scotland will be of benefit to them, and he is equally convinced that everything is in place to ensure that the gains of last season become lasting ones.
"It's great that the 22 are there, and they'll come back better players after playing on the bigger stage, doing all that training. If they don't make the final squad they'll still get game time in the summer Tests, which will be great as it's a higher level than what we'll be playing at. It's up to us as coaches to integrate them and get them up to speed on what we are looking to do.
"The target is just to be better. We'll see what happens with that. We're going to work hard and work better, and that starts with the coaches and the players. We know it will be tough in the league and Europe next season.
"The Champions Cup is such a great tournament. You have to play really well in all six pool games to get to the quarter-finals, and that's what we're aiming to do. There's no reason why we can't get through, but again that will come from the players' hard work."
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