'It gives the players clarity' - Rennie puts an end to speculation over his future

Dave Rennie has finally put to bed speculation around his future. The New Zealander’s contract with Glasgow Warriors was due to finish at the end of the season and he was a name hotly tipped for the Wales head coach job, before his fellow countryman Wayne Pivac got the role.

Rennie steered Glasgow to the Pro14 semi-finals in his first season with the club, and they’re currently top of Conference A.

His CV also includes Super Rugby success with the Chiefs in 2012 and 2013. And despite turnover within the New Zealand coaching set-up with Steve Hansen departing after the 2019 World Cup and a potential role, Rennie is staying put at Scotstoun, signing a contract extension until 2020.

“I’m going to be here for at least another year-and-a-half, possibly longer. It’s been really good, we are really happy,” he said.

“It gives the players clarity around who is going to be here and what it is going to look like.

“We have been able to sign some good young men, retain the majority of the squad and are looking to add a little bit of firepower in certain positions.

“We’ve been doing that for a number of months but there is still a little bit to go.”

At the start of the season and was asked by RugbyPass whether he’d be interested in trying his hand at international level in future.

“I think so. I enjoy the day-to-day coaching and maybe the frustration from an international point of view is that you get a small block and you are pretty reliant on the clubs that the players come from doing a good job, around developing skillsets, doing the conditioning and so on. I really enjoy being on the grass coaching, hence the reason I am still doing it.”

Watch: Dave Rennie discusses international ambitions and Glasgow Warriors at Heineken Champions Cup launch

His immediate focus will be on Benetton in the PRO14 this weekend.

“We’ve had a good week of preparation and are looking forward to the challenge of Benetton away.

“Keiran Crowley has done an excellent job around recruitment and development and they are now a genuine play-off contender.

“Our strength has been our ability to convert opportunities, but we haven’t been clinical enough over the past couple of weeks making more handling errors than in the previous five games. That needs to be better this week.”

Glasgow Warriors team to play Benetton Rugby in the Guinness PRO14, Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Saturday 5 January:

1. Jamie Bhatti (36)
2. Grant Stewart (14)
3. Siua Halanukonuka (22)
4. Tim Swinson (118)
5. Scott Cummings (46)
6. Ryan Wilson (C) (148)
7. Chris Fusaro (155)
8. Adam Ashe (63)

9. George Horne (32)
10. Adam Hastings (21)
11. Niko Matawalu (105)
12. Sam Johnson (43)
13. Stafford McDowall (6)
14. Robbie Nairn (2)
15. Ruairdh Jackson (145)

Replacements

16. Kevin Bryce (18)
17. Alex Allan (82)
18. D’Arcy Rae (54)
19. Rob Harley (198)
20. Matt Smith (22)
21. Nick Frisby (9)
22. Brandon Thomson (15)
23. Lee Jones (80)

Unavailable players: Fraser Brown (knee) Alex Dunbar (thigh), Zander Fagerson (ankle), Stuart Hogg (hip), Peter Horne (knee) Oli Kebble (chest), George Turner (ankle)