Chalmers revels in stopgap role

After a year out with injury, Chalmers had worked his way back into the Glasgow Caledonian Reds squad but he was concussed by an elbow against Cross Keys, missed four games and was not selected for Glasgow's European Cup squad.

He said: "I wasn't happy so I went back to Melrose for five games, got my match fitness back and then Quins contacted me. I wanted to do it but the Scottish Rugby Union, who have my contract, were not keen to release me. But it was a short term thing to the end of January and Scotland decided to let me come to London.

"I touched the ball only once in my first game for Quins and got a dead leg in one match and a broken nose in another through colliding with the same player, Nick Burrows.

"But I am glad I pushed to come. This is a different level, a step up, as close to international rugby as you can get.

"It took time to settle at Quins but they are a good bunch of guys who accepted me. I kept my mouth shut at first because you can't just come and start mouthing off but as a No 10 you do have to speak up and be heard."

Chalmers will also the first-choice goal kicker on Saturday now that the Irish international Niall Woods is on the bench. He hit one spectacular conversion two matches ago and reckons he is striking the ball sweetly.

"Kicking is all about concentration, timing and keeping your head down," he said.

His favourite penalty was against Quins in the Melrose sevens tournament, when his kick - "One of the ugliest you ever saw" - won the game.

But during a career in which he won 60 caps for Scotland and made one Test appearance for the 1989 Lions in Australia, Chalmers is best remembered for two dropped goals. One clinched a win for the Lions against New South Wales in Sydney; the second put the Barbarians on the way to victory over South Africa in Dublin when the ball struck the bar and carried on.

As for the Leicester game, Chalmers said: "A massive game, no question. I have played for teams that have beaten Leicester and you have to be positive. We have to play a game which will put them under pressure. We have to be in their faces and knock them back.

"Leicester's consistency over the years has been fantastic. We have to lift it, cut out mistakes and take our chances - and we won't get that many."

Malcolm Pearce, Bristol's millionaire chairman, has threatened to quit.

Pearce, who stepped in to salvage the club 30 months ago, will wait until the end of the season before making a decision but said: "Whether there is still a Bristol Rugby Club at the end of the season remains to be seen. I hope so but I am seriously considering my future involvement.

"No individual or organisation has come along to help the club financially. It makes me wonder if Bristol is capable of supporting two professional football clubs and a Premiership rugby team."