Warriors in quick raid to bring in Storm er K ebb le with Hastings near deal
GLASGOW Warriors have signed a replacement for Gordon Reid – just a day after it was announced that the popular loosehead prop would be leaving Scotstoun at the end of the season.
The new man is South Africa Under-20s international Oliver Kebble, who currently plays for the Stormers.
The Warriors are also closer to signing Adam Hastings, the son of former Scotland skipper Gavin. Bath, Hastings’ current club, announced yesterday he would leave in the summer, and hinted Glasgow was his most likely destination.
Kebble, 24, is the son of former Springboks international Guy Kebble, and has played 34 times for the Stormers. He shares a flat with Stormers centre Huw Jones, who has already signed for the Warriors next season.
Like Jones, Kebble, who has agreed a two-year deal, will join at the end of the Currie Cup campaign.
“Glasgow is a club on the up,” Kebble said.
“They are showing great ambition in Europe and are title contenders in the PRO12. It was the right club for me to go to.
“I’m really excited about playing at Scotstoun. I’ve watched all of the Glasgow matches in the Champions Cup this season and Northern Hemisphere rugby is getting very exciting. “I know [incoming Warriors coach] Dave Rennie is one of the best coaches in the world, so it’s an exciting prospect to work under him next season. As a prop I pride myself on my scrummaging as well as my loose work around the park. I try and bring an edge to the game and make an impact.
“Huw and I live together in Cape Town. We didn’t really talk about it too much before it happened, but it’s nice to know there will be a familiar face in Glasgow.”
Meanwhile, although Hastings’ move has yet to be confirmed by Glasgow, all but the fine details of the deal look like they are in place.
“If Adam moves to Glasgow he’ll be under the guidance of Dave Rennie,” said Bath director of rugby Todd Blackadder, a former assistant coach of both Scotland and Edinburgh.
“He would go to Glasgow to be their No 2 fly-half and he wouldn’t have been that here, so it makes sense. I would understand that decision.
“You can’t expect too much from 10s early on. They play in the hardest position on the field. They’ve got to have a great skill set and be really good decision-makers. They take time to develop.”
Hastings will deputise for starting stand-off Finn Russell, who has been short of competition for the jersey since Duncan Weir left for Glasgow.
Pete Horne, who is recovering from injury, has been a more than able replacement for Russell for both club and country, but he is primarily a centre.