URC champions Glasgow bracing for coach exit

Glasgow Warriors appear to have won their battle to keep boss Franco Smith at Scotstoun but look to be losing one of his loyal lieutenants, Pete Murchie, who is set to leave for Japan.

Smith has another year left to run on his contract and has been linked with Leicester Tigers and Wales in the last month, but Warriors attack coach Nigel Carolan told the Scotsman that the boss isn’t going anywhere.

“He’s very coy, and he’s committed to Glasgow Warriors. At the moment, as far as we’re concerned, he’s not going anywhere. He’s making massive plans here for the future.

“He has told me his plans are to stay here. At the moment, he’s 100 per cent committed to Glasgow Warriors,” admitted former Ireland under-20 boss Carolan, who moved to the Warriors four years ago.

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Last weekend, former Italy boss Smith said that he wants to coach international rugby again, and he could have an eye on the Scotland job with Gregor Townsend only under contract until April 2026, a few months before his own deal runs out.

But they are going to have to search for another defence coach, with former Scotland international Murchie looking set to join former Glasgow and Wallabies boss David Rennie at Japan Rugby League One outfit Kobelco Kobe Steelers.

Murchie, 39, was born in Carlisle and was part of the Glasgow coaching team that helped them win the United Rugby Championship title last year by beating the Bulls in Pretoria.

The former Bath, London Welsh, and Glasgow Warriors full-back, who won three Scotland caps, won a PRO12 title-winner in 2015 when he was seen as a key leader in the squad.

He started his coaching career in France with Stade Nicois in 2017 before returning to Scotland as head coach of Ayr and Ayrshire Bulls. He then linked up with Warriors in 2021 and was part of the Scotland A coaching setup last year.