HURRICANES openside flanker Callum Gibbins has become Glasgow Warriors’ third signing for next season, joining on a three-year contract subject to a visa and a medical. The New Zealander, who follows Scotland centre Huw Jones and South African prop Oli Kebble in signing on at Scotstoun, replaces Italian international Simone Favaro, who is leaving at the end of the season.
Gibbins came off the bench for the Hurricanes in last year’s Super Rugby final when they beat the Lions, and was previously captain of Manawatu Turbos. His coaches there were Dave Rennie, who will succeed Gregor Townsend as the Warriors’ head coach next season, and Jason O’Halloran, who is currently one of Vern Cotter’s assistant coaches with Scotland but will move to Scotstoun in the summer to work with Rennie
“Callum is a hard-working player with real leadership attributes and he's another exciting addition to the squad for next season,” Townsend said yesterday. “He is part of a winning environment right now at the Hurricanes and is a player Dave and Jason know well from their time coaching him at Manawatu.”
Twenty-eight-year-old Gibbins said: “I’m excited about the opportunity to start a new journey with Glasgow Warriors in Scotland. I feel privileged to be in a situation where I can make a decision like this and I’m looking forward to the new experiences that lie ahead.
“Each of the teams I’ve represented, and all the fans who have supported those teams, hold a special place in my heart, and there is no doubt I’ll miss the people I’ve been involved in during my rugby career to date.”
Gibbins has played 26 times in the competition so far, scoring three tries, and will join his new team-mates once his commitments with both the Hurricanes and Manawatu are complete. Similarly, Rennie will only move from New Zealand once his own commitments with the Chiefs are over.
While the Warriors will make more signings over the next couple of months, they may decide that with Gibbins on board they have sufficient back-row options. Josh Strauss is another back-row forward who is on his way out of Scotstoun, but the squad are still relatively strong in that area, with Ryan Wilson, Rob Harley, Adam Ashe and Chris Fusaro among the players they can field there.
Tim Swinson, who normally plays in the second row alongside Jonny Gray, can also provide cover in the back row as he has shown in recent outings with Scotland. International hooker Fraser Brown began his career in the back row and, like Swinson, has shown himself still capable of thriving there.
Whichever combination Rennie opts for once he takes over, however, there is no doubt that Gibbins has the potential to be a very valuable signing. Injuries to both Favaro and Fusaro have meant that the Warriors have often gone into games without an out-and-out openside, so provided the New Zealander gets a regular run of games he should bring a new dimension to the team’s forward play.
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