Saracens lock Tom Ryder could have extended loan stay at Glasgow

THE LATEST loan signing by Glasgow, Tom Ryder, has not ruled out the possibility of staying at Glasgow beyond November, but admits his intention is to find form and return to a regular starting slot with Saracens.

The 25-year-old arrived in Glasgow on Wednesday as coach Sean Lineen continued his wheeling and dealing in the transfer market to bolster a squad on limited funds.

Ryder has agreed a two-month loan from Saracens to cover the absence of Warriors lock Al Kellock and, at 6ft 5in and nearly 18 stones, and with 98 Premiership appearances under his belt, he represents a formidable boost.

Ryder will start alongside Richie Gray in Glasgow's final pre-season match against Wasps at Adams Park tomorrow, in a game that also sees the return of Graeme Morrison and Jon Welsh from injury and a start for stand-off Duncan Weir.

Ryder told The Scotsman: "I've just come up and met the lads, and I'm looking forward to playing. This is an opportunity for me to play good quality rugby at Glasgow at a time when opportunities at Saracens were going to be a bit less than they have been.

"I'm not looking beyond the two months. My hope is that I can help Glasgow out, get some game-time and form and then go back to Sarries and push again to get into the team, but if Glasgow and Scottish opportunities arose … we'll just see."

Ryder's father Paul hails from Giffnock in Glasgow and his name has been known to coaches within the Scottish game since he helped England U19s and U21s to victories over the Scots and made his Premiership debut with Leicester in 2003, before the move to north London two years later.

Lineen has signed Aly Muldowney from Moseley and youngster Rob Harley from West of Scotland to fill the gaps left by Tim Barker and Dan Turner, and was delighted to see Richie Gray in fine form in last Friday's narrow loss to Sale. But the coach is delighted to have acquired Ryder as second row cover while Kellock recovers from his second knee operation.

"I've been looking for cover, and knowing about Tom I spoke to Brendan Venter about this opportunity," said Lineen. "He said it was entirely up to Tom, so I'm pleased he has agreed to come up."

Glasgow also have 21-year-old scrum-half Will Cliff on loan from Sale and are hopeful that Canadian flanker Chauncey O'Toole might return after a positive two-week trial in July.