By Graham Thomas
John Barclay will put the Scarlets ahead of Test rugby, despite his recall for Scotland.
The 29-year-old flanker is enjoying an international resurgence in the current Six Nations, despite having been overlooked entirely for the World Cup.
But though Barclay is now in line to win his 49th and 50th caps for his country in the final two rounds of the tournament, he will continue to return to Wales between Tests – even if it puts his Test place in jeopardy.
That means Barclay plays tonight at home to Treviso, unlike the bulk of the Scotland squad who are being rested ahead of next weekend’s penultimate match France.
Barclay says: “It is good to be back involved, but my first loyalty is to the Scarlets.
“They have looked after me since I have been here, I have to repay that by coming back in the gap weeks and playing. Hopefully, there are a few years left in the tank as the body feels pretty good.”
Barclay, who joined the Scarlets from Glasgow three years ago, was left out by Scotland coach Vern Cotter last summer and feared his Test career was over.
But his form for his region forced a re-think and he was recalled for the matches against England, Wales and Italy, where the Scots won for the first time in this tournament.
“I said after the World Cup that I didn’t think I would get picked, but I kept my head down as I have tried to do over the last couple of years.
“I was a bit surprised to be called in and to start the first game, but I have felt I have been playing some pretty good rugby since then. Hopefully, I’m there to stay a little bit longer.”
For the moment, though, Barclay is concentrating on the bread and butter of regional rugby and ensuring the Scarlets make the end of season Pro12 play-offs.
“We have felt that, by and large, the whole season, we have been there and thereabouts. It is just so tight there are the top, whereas in previous years there have been five teams pushing for the play-offs, there are probably eight now.
“The push for European qualification and the top six has put more pressure on the top four even more.
“We are pretty happy with how we have gone but it is the business end now. The guys have been going well in the international break, but it is a matter of keeping that on and when the boys come back from the Wales squad it is a final push for the play-offs.”
