Wilson delighted to add Dickinson to backroom staff at Scotstoun

DANNY Wilson is convinced that Glasgow have pulled off a real coup by signing scrum coach Alasdair Dickinson from English Premiership leaders Bristol Bears.

The Warriors head coach worked with the former Scotland loosehead in the lead-up to the 2019 World Cup, and believes that Dickinson’s qualities will make him a valuable addition to the team’s backroom staff.

“I’m really excited and pleased with that recruitment,” Wilson said last night. “Al’s somebody I did a little bit of work with for the World Cup in terms of the specialist work around looseheads, and I was impressed with his scrum knowledge and his scrum ability. His playing background speaks for itself. To get him back from a Premiership giant, the Premiership leaders, is really pleasing.”

Dickinson, 37, won 58 caps for Scotland between 2007 and 2016. He only retired from playing three years ago, but will move to Scotstoun in the summer having already accumulated invaluable coaching experience with the national women’s and under-20 teams as well as with the Bears.

“It will be great for me and my family to be back in Scotland,” he said. “I feel I owe a lot to Scottish Rugby, and to get an opportunity to coach at the professional level in Scotland is quite rare and something I couldn’t turn down.

“I’ve had a great time working at Bristol. Working in a world-class environment where we are challenging for Premiership and Champions Cup has been a great learning experience.”

Petrus du Plessis, who had been Glasgow’s scrum coach in the 2019-20 season while still registered as a player, left to join the Wallabies last year.