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Warriors make first signing now that Rennie is staying on board
Fresh from announcing his one-year extension to continue coaching Glasgow, Dave Rennie has revealed he expects to make about a half-dozen signings for the Warriors either side of the World Cup finals in Japan.
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Business has been slow at Scotstoun this spring, the 2015 PRO12 champions considerably quieter in the market than their Scottish rivals Edinburgh who have unveiled a host of new signings in recent months.
But Rennie, who was linked to taking up the Australia Test team position following Japan 2019, insisted there are recruitment talks ongoing behind the scenes, adding that he feels his Warriors don’t require much of an overhaul anyway as he prepares for his third season in charge at the club.
“People get excited by big names or new names, but we made about 18 changes in the first year, so there was a big shift of players out and players in,” he told Scottish media this week in the wake of his confirmation on Tuesday that he will be staying on at Scotstoun until at least summer 2020.
“We brought in about six last year, we’re going to bring in about six next year, and if we’re making 14 changes we have obviously got some things wrong in regard to our contracting.
Glasgow Warriors recruitment plan revealed: six new signings https://t.co/4EtYvRnUh5
— #rugbyscotland 🏉🏴 (@RugbySco) April 10, 2019
“Some of those changes are down to guys like Stuart Hogg leaving, so there won’t be massive change. We have got a good squad, good depth, and there are just a couple of positions that we think can strengthen us. We’re pretty sorted with contracting, so we’re not sitting on our hands waiting for something to pop up.
“It’ll be a bit of both,” continued Rennie, explaining whether new players would be arriving before or after the finals in the Far East.
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“Obviously some guys could be at a World Cup. Some guys, if they’re coming out of Australasia, could be involved in another competition, but we’re going to have enough numbers to do what we need to do prior to the World Cup.
“For some of the smaller nations, those guys will be out for three (PRO14) games. Someone like a Siua (Halanukonuka) will be away with Tonga, and round four is a week off. Then round five, he has potentially been back a couple of weeks.”
✍️ | Charlie Capps will join Glasgow Warriors next season after signing a two-year deal, while fellow tight-head Adam Nicol has become the latest player to extend his stay at the club for a further two seasons | 📰 FULL STORY ➡️ https://t.co/5N2Pf6Fovu pic.twitter.com/daebejLy1V
— Glasgow Warriors (@GlasgowWarriors) April 10, 2019
Rennie’s media session was followed by the club’s announcement that Charlie Capps will join next season after signing a two-year deal, while fellow tighthead Adam Nicol has become the latest player to extend his stay at the club for a further two seasons.
Capps, 23, arrives at Scotstoun after a season with Stade Nicois in Federale 1, with the prop having benefitted from Scottish Rugby’s performance partnership with the French outfit. He has made 17 appearances in France this season, having previously played 10 games for Yorkshire Carnegie in the English Championship and British and Irish Cup.
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Capps, who has represented England U18 but is Scottish qualified, becomes the second player to join the Warriors from Stade Nicois after Bruce Flockhart signed his first professional contract at the beginning of this season.
WATCH: Jim Hamilton meets Stuart Hogg
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
40 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
40 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
40 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
40 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
40 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
40 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
40 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
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