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. 

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. 

“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.  

“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.”

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.

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