Young Gun: Mark Bennet – Glasgow centre

Mark Bennett was so highly-rated coming through the ranks at Glasgow that French giants Clermont Auvergne brought him to the Stade Marcel Michelin at the age of just 18.
Joining the likes of Wesley Fofana and Aurélien Rougerie with Les Jaunards, Bennett spent a season and a half in the Clermont academy before returning to Glasgow this season in search of greater game time.
Having initially returned on a loan deal, he has now signed a permanent contract with the Warriors, the lure of working with Gregor Townsend proving too strong to resist.
“It was a great experience for me out in Clermont and I feel like I learned a lot from my time there,” said Bennett who started playing rugby at Cumnock before spending a year with Ayr and then joining the Warriors academy.
“But when the chance came to return to Glasgow and get more game time, I couldn’t really say no.
“The training was quite different out in France. There was a lot of focus on the passing side of things which was really important for me.
“The move came about in the first place because my agent was also the agent for Jason White.
“He was with Clermont and I think they asked if there were any younger players coming through. I went out just for a week to begin with and it went from there and I signed on a longer deal.
“It was a fantastic opportunity for me there and I had a great time. It was very different, it’s a real rugby city, the players are all heroes out there.
“Gregor came to me though when he took over at Glasgow and told me what was going on – it’s a really strong squad here and we’re having a good season so far in the Pro12.”
So far it’s been a successful return for Bennett, who made his first appearance back with the Warriors in a thumping 60-3 win away to the Dragons.
While the standard of opposition at Rodney Parade gave little indication of how good Bennett can really be, the centre partnership he formed with Alex Dunbar showed a lot of potential.
The pair both scored tries in that game and were reunited as Glasgow knocked off then leaders Ulster at the end of last month.
Since then Bennett has been a key cog with Scotland U20s, the centre looking the standout player for a Scottish team which finished the Six Nations in fourth place with two wins.
He admits that little mistakes proved costly – especially in the final 13-10 defeat in France – but believes the side learned a lot from the experience.
He added: “The final game in France was frustrating because we felt we could have won that one.
“It was only in the Wales game that we were well-beaten. It makes you realise how small the margins are, France scored a good drop- goal that ended up being the difference in that match.
“It was still a great experience though and I think we learned a lot.
“Now being back with Glasgow is great, we are in the play-off places and every game is huge.
“I want to be involved as much as possible before the end of the season and hopefully we can make the semi-finals.
“There are a lot of young guys coming through and it’s promising for the future.
“It’s great to Gregor about – he helps us youngsters a lot. He’s done it at the highest level and has been really good with me.”