Jones to join exodus from Warriors in the summer
GLASGOW Warriors full-back Huw Jones has turned down a contract extension offer and is to quit the club at the end of the season.
Sportsmail can reveal that several French and English outfits are chasing the signature of the Scotland international. Bayonne have made him an offer, while London Irish are also in the market but are unlikely to be able to match the money available in France.
Jones, 27, is the latest big name to indicate he’s leaving Scotstoun, with Adam Hastings and Leone Nakarawa also rejecting new deals to join Gloucester and Ulster in the summer respectively.
Capped 28 times, Jones signed for Glasgow four years ago from the Stormers in South Africa.
But he has never totally fulfilled expectations, drifting in and out of the Warriors side under previous head coach Dave Rennie, and wasn’t selected by Gregor Townsend for the 2019 World Cup in Japan.
Although a natural centre, he was moved to full-back when Danny Wilson took over at Glasgow last summer, with the change of position only slightly improving his international prospects. From being a firstchoice centre for Scotland, he is now considered a utility back and has come off the bench in the first two Six Nations games against England and Wales.
Glasgow have already taken steps to replace him, with Scottish-qualified former New Zealand Under-20s player Cole Forbes signing a three-year deal following a successful trial.
The former junior All Black, who can play at full-back, on the wing, or fly-half, has been training with his new team-mates at Scotstoun since the end of January and has impressed Wilson and his coaching team.
Forbes, 21, first caught the eye when helping Bay of Plenty win the Jock Hobbs Memorial National Under-19s tournament in New Zealand, before going on to make his senior debut for the province in the Mitre10 Cup.
Former Scotland international Hugh Blake, who won his solitary cap against Ireland in the 2015 Six Nations while playing for Edinburgh, helped Forbes arrange the trial.
‘Hugh Blake and I played Mitre10 together for Bay of Plenty, and he got me in contact with an agent up here,’ said Forbes. ‘They put me in touch with Danny and the coaches at Glasgow, who were keen to take me on trial. Luckily, it’s gone really well and I’m keen to repay the faith they’ve shown in me.’
Scottish-qualified courtesy of his grandfather, Forbes was part of the New Zealand squad for the 2019 World Rugby Under-20s Championship.
‘I always wanted to go overseas with my rugby if the opportunity came up, and Glasgow were keen to bring me over and have a look at me and all the boys have been great since I arrived,’ said Forbes.
‘Coming in halfway through a season is always difficult but they have helped me fit in really well.’
Head coach Wilson, said: ‘Cole has really impressed us since joining in January.
‘He’s a back-three player with pace, good footwork and has shown a defensive physical presence already in training.
‘He joins us with experience playing in the Mitre10 Cup and has previously represented New Zealand Under-20s.
‘Cole has worked hard in training and shown a lot of promise. We look forward to seeing what he can do in the Warriors jersey.’ Forbes’ first opportunity could come on Sunday as Glasgow travel to face the defending Pro14 champions Leinster. ‘It’s a challenge I am looking forward to,’ he said. ‘The style of rugby is definitely different to back in New Zealand and there’s a lot more kicking up here, so I’ve been making sure my game under the high ball is a big focus in training.
‘I can’t wait for my first opportunity to run out in a Glasgow shirt. ‘I want to show what I can do and thank the Glasgow coaches for giving me the chance every time I represent this proud city.’