New Bernardo Stortoni contract lifts Lineen as he adds fresh talent to Glasgow

THE Scottish professional teams are close to finalising their squads for next season with Glasgow announcing another clutch of signings yesterday and coach Sean Lineen confident his title-chasing squad will be stronger again next season.

Lineen announced the re-signing of Bernardo Stortoni, the Argentina full-back who has become a favourite within the squad and with supporters, as well as step-ups for flanker Chris Fusaro and Dave McCall, the former Heriot's centre/wing, from academy and temporary deals to full professional contracts.

The coach admitted other players would leave by the end of the season, but dismissed speculation players were being lined up for moves between Edinburgh and Glasgow, specifically denying the suggestion Edinburgh full-back Jim Thompson might head along the M8 in the summer, and he acknowledged budgets were not as strong as he would want.

Lineen said: "As a head coach I will always want more money, but I am also realistic about where we are – you have got to be. It has been an interesting few months on the contract front. I won't say more than that. But I am delighted Bernie has signed, it is fantastic to have him here as an individual and a person.

"He is a coach's dream. Everything about him is just what you want. His honesty, he knows when he has played well, and there are no excuses. He demands more of other players, he is also very proud and is always looking to improve even at his age. He is first on the computers, looking at his game, making notes; just a total professional.

"His attitude is what you want from the home players. He has had to work very, very hard, a lot harder than maybe some of our local players, in terms of his upbringing, where he comes from. He is incredibly important to us in terms of experience. With Dan (Parks] and Kelly (Brown] going, there is a fair bit of experience there so you need him. Leadership is really important at any level and he is really strong in that he leads by example."

Stortoni is one of the most successful foreign signings the pro teams have made, for his influence on and off the pitch, but he stated Glasgow's improvement had also been a factor in encouraging him to stay.

"Over the last three years Glasgow have improved a lot. We play better rugby and we have more ambition," said Stortoni. "When I came here, we lost the first two games and everyone was OK about it. Now, if we lose everyone is very angry, home or away. Glasgow is more professional now and I'm happy to be part of that.

"I also want to keep playing pro rugby and I think staying here is a good decision for me and my family. It's a big challenge for me as I'm 33 and I have to be fit and at the same standard as the younger players. I have to train a bit harder than the rest, but I'm happy to be involved and play every single game and I'm feeling ok."

The Scottish sides' depth of strength has come under the spotlight again recently with Glasgow's form in reaching the top of the Magners League being reflected in their players dominating the Scotland squad selection, and so leaving the team weaker. Hence, Glasgow were convincingly knocked off the top by Cardiff last time out, whose strength without their Wales internationalists was significantly greater than Glasgow's.

Edinburgh were without fewer Scotland players, but also lost, at Munster. Glasgow are away to Connacht on Friday night with Edinburgh at home on Sunday to the Ospreys, both again shorn of their current Scotland players. Interestingly, Ulster have secured the release of Scotland winger Simon Danielli for their Magners League game at the Scarlets on Friday.

Lineen acknowledged it was a difficult balance providing opportunities to as many emerging young Scots as possible, but with good experienced performers around to help educate them, and still keep the team competitive when those performers become good enough for Scotland.

"But that is the challenge and I enjoy that," he said. "A big part of the job is getting as many of the guys in the Scotland team as possible, and we have performed exceptionally well this season, but the flip side is you have to have a squad that can kick on when they are not there and we have not done that yet.

"It's a money thing. But ... we have got ourselves into a really good position and the last thing we want to do is see it dribble away. That is not going to happen; that cannot happen."

He is pleased the months of contract talks are nearing an end – No8 Johnnie Beattie is another expected to conclude his new contract to stay at Glasgow in the near future – but agreed it was "inevitable" other as yet unnamed players will leave Glasgow this summer.

"I'm pretty confident (of having a stronger squad next season], but it is going to take a lot of work over the next three months. The Cardiff game was a bitterly disappointing performance. The effort was there but something was missing, aside from the 11 or so players.

"But the guys can't just accept that (defeat] because these guys (internationalists) are not there, so there have been harsh words spoken this week – a few home truths – about the reality of the situation and where we are and how important this game is."

He added: "The belief is there, but they have to really want to do it as a group. We have an opportunity now, against a Connacht team who are just as strong all the way through the campaign – they don't lose anyone (internationalists] and have had a good run with a bit of consistency and a bit of momentum."

Glasgow squad (v Connacht at Galway Sportsground on Friday, 8pm): Forwards: T Barker, J Eddie, C Forrester, C Fusaro (Heriot's), R Gray, D Hall, E Kalman, F Thomson, K Tkachuk, D Turner, R Vernon, J Welsh; Backs: A Dunbar (Selkirk), C Gregor, P Horne, R Jackson, DTH van der Merwe, M McMillan, P Murchie, H O'Hare, C Shaw, B Stortoni.