Chiefs’ Rennie to be Glasgow rugby coach

Chiefs Super Rugby head coach Dave Rennie has been named as Gregor Townsend’s successor at Glasgow Warriors.

The New Zealander will take over from Townsend when he moves to coach the Scottish national team in June 2017.

Rennie guided the Chiefs to the Super Rugby title in 2013 and has won two domestic cups with the Hamilton-based side.

Rennie also guided New Zealand’s under-20s to a hat-trick of junior world championships.

“The opportunity to work with such an exciting group of players at a club that has such big ambitions and a great winning culture was one I couldn’t turn down.

“It is no secret I have been interested in coaching abroad and this chance with Scottish Rugby fitted the bill perfectly.

“As a coach, you want to test yourself in new environments with new challenges. The work Gregor and his team have done at the Warriors speaks for itself and I am very motivated to continue that success and build the club.”

The 52-year-old former Wellington centre and coach has signed a two-year contract to begin next (northern) summer.

Scottish Rugby Union chief executive Mark Dodson said: “It is a clear indication of the progress Scottish Rugby and Glasgow Warriors are making that we can attract a coach of Dave’s experience to Scotland to work with our players.

“Gregor has developed a great winning culture at Glasgow Warriors and I’m very confident Dave will be able to build on that solid foundation to bring more success to the club.

“We have a group of talented Scottish players at Glasgow and we want to maintain their progress and this appointment will expose them to fresh ideas and new approaches to the game. Dave’s experience at the Chiefs and at New Zealand age-grade level can only help to develop them and the team further.”

Warriors managing director Nathan Bombrys added: “We are incredibly proud at Glasgow Warriors that Gregor will be the next Scotland national coach at the end of next season”.

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