Big-name Warriors trio set to leave Scotstoun
GLASGOW Warriors will depart with three of the biggest names in their squad at the end of the season – Mark Bennett, Josh Strauss and Gordon Reid.
Outside centre Bennett is joining Edinburgh on a three-year deal, a move that has been on the cards since the Warriors started negotiating to sign Huw Jones from the Stormers in South Africa. No.8 Strauss and loosehead prop Reid are being released, with the frontrow forward widely tipped to sign for London Irish.
With Jones set to continue his Scotland partnership with Alex Dunbar at the Warriors when he joins in the summer, a move to Edinburgh is the only way for Bennett to stay in the country and be guaranteed regular firstteam action. The 24-yearold played in France before rejoining Glasgow in 2012 and could easily have attracted interest there, but instead he is set to become one of the most important players with the capital club.
“A key factor in my decision was that there’s a young squad at Edinburgh who are going in the right direction and I feel like I can add to that,” Bennett said yesterday.
“I’ve also worked with Duncan Hodge before as part of the Scotland set-up and I like his approach to the game.”
As Hodge is only acting head coach at Edinburgh, there is no official guarantee he will be there next season. But Bennett’s words suggest there will at least be some role in place.
Reid, 29, has now played more than 100 times for the Glasgow team, as has 30-year-old Strauss.
“Although there is a lot of rugby still to be played this season, I’d like to acknowledge and thank Gordy, Josh and Mark’s invaluable contributions since they joined the club,” Glasgow head coach Gregor Townsend said yesterday.
“We look forward to them ending their time at the Warriors with the same commitment and skill they have shown already this season and wish them well in the next stages of their careers.”