Warriors co-captain decides to move on

Glasgow Warriors captain and back-rower Callum Gibbins is leaving the club at the end of the 2019/20 campaign, following three successful seasons at Scotstoun, writes Steve Scott.

The New Zealander has been a fixture in the back row in his three seasons with the club, acting as co-captain with Ryan Wilson and leading the team out in last year’s Guinness PRO14 final at Celtic Park.

He made 46 appearances for the club, scoring 13 tries, having been an instant hit when coming to Scotland after impressing playing for the Hurricanes against the British Lions in Wellington on their tour in 2017.

He was named captain of the PRO14 Dream Team at the end of his first season, and has been one of the unquestioned team leaders during Dave Rennie’s time as head coach.

Although Gibbins would become Scottish qualified in September, he has opted not to take that route and instead will move on.

“Callum has had a massive impact since his arrival and leaves a lasting impression,” said Rennie. “A high-quality man, he is hugely respected by peers and staff alike. Cully would hate me saying this but he has been the perfect Warrior.

“His work ethic and attention to detail on and off the pitch makes him an outstanding role model. Superbly conditioned, competitive and intelligent, his point of difference is his ability to become a different creature and bring a brutal edge every time he crosses the paint.

“He genuinely cares about his team-mates, is very generous with his time for fans and prominent in a variety of community projects. Having a lead role in the Scrumbags, the team band that raised over £10,000 for the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity is one such example of this.”

Callum Gibbins: Three seasons at Scotstoun.