NEW signing James Downey is enjoying life at Glasgow Warriors and is hoping to taste title success at Scotstoun.

After joining up with the team earlier this summer for a two-week pre-season training camp in France, the former Munster centre has been impressed with Townsend's men's style of play and is hopeful he can help them to a successful season.

The 33-year-old, capped once for Ireland, said: "I've been impressed with the progression of Glasgow Warriors as a club.

"They are a multi-facet team who attack from behind their own sticks.

"They have strengths all over the park and I wouldn't have signed if I didn't think we could win the league.

"The way they play is really exciting and I saw that first hand last season when I lost to them in the Pro12 semi-final.

"They are an up-and-coming team with big ambitions and I felt that I needed a fresh challenge."

The Warriors' first pre-season match is on August 23 against Harlequins before Leinster come calling in the opening match of the Guinness Pro12.

Downey said: "It'll be interesting to step out of the home dressing room for the first time and I can't wait for it.

"Leinster are the best team in Europe at the moment, up there with Toulon, and they have set the bar high in recent times.

"When you lose a final it's never nice but now they have the experience of it, it will hold us in great stead and hopefully help us to go one step further.

"I'm loving life in Glasgow as it has been buzzing because of the Commonwealth Games and I'm looking forward to the start of the season."