Grant heads for Worcester as quartet leave Warriors

GLASGOW have confirmed the departure of four players, including Ryan Grant.

The former Scotland and Lions loosehead prop has joined Aviva Premiership side Worcester following seven years and 109 appearances for Warriors, who also confirmed that Tongan international tighthead prop Sila Puafisi would join Brive in the summer at the end of his two-year contract.

Another prop, Jarrod Firth, has left with immediate effect to move to France. The New Zealander has been on trial at Grenoble and leaves one year into a two-and-a-half year deal.

And Langilangi Haupeakui has returned to the United States for family reasons. The American back-row forward made four substitute appearances for Warriors but did not return to Glasgow after a break in his homeland.

Grant has been capped 25 times, but has failed to hold down a first-team place in the past couple of seasons.

The 31-year-old said: “I’ve had a lot of good times at Glasgow and made a lot of friends. Winning t he Guinness PRO12 was huge; the back-to-back wins against Ulster in the lead up to the final were also a highlight for me.

“I wouldn’t have ever played for Scotland or been selected for the Lions had it not been for Glasgow Warriors.

“I owe a great deal to the club and the coaches, Sean Lineen, Shade Munro, Gregor Townsend and Dan McFarland. The success in my career is down to the things I have learned and the experiences I’ve had at Glasgow.

“I’ll always have a spot for Glasgow in my heart. Some of my best friends still play for this club and as far as I’m concerned when I look back at my career I’ll always be a Glasgow Warrior.

“A change in circumstances and a change in surroundings might be what I need to get back to my best again.”