Dave Rennie to replace Gregor Townsend as Glasgow Warriors coach next year

The Scottish Rugby Union has announced that former Chiefs coach Dave Rennie will take in charge of Glasgow Warriors following the expiry of the contract of Gregor Townsend.

The upcoming season of the Pro12 will be the final of Townsend with Glasgow as he is all set to take the role of the national coach with Scotland in June 2017 replacing Vern Cotter.

Rennie joined the Chiefs in 2012 and in his first two seasons, he led the team to successive Super Rugby titles. The 52-year-old also has the experience of coaching Manawatu for six years in the ITM Cup and also coached the New Zealand Under-20 team to three consecutive World titles between 2008 and 2010.

The former Wellington centre said he is looking forward to be a part of the Scottish rugby and is confident of continuing the success the Glasgow Warriors have built over the years.

"The opportunity to work with such an exciting group of players at a club that has such big ambitions and a great winning culture was one I couldn't turn down.

"It is no secret I have been interested in coaching abroad and this chance with Scottish Rugby fitted the bill perfectly.

"As a coach you want to test yourself in new environments with new challenges. The work Gregor and his team have done at the Warriors speaks for itself and I am very motivated to continue that success and build the club."

Rennie added that he and his wife, Steph, were "really looking forward to a new phase in our lives".

"We are really impressed with what we have seen in Glasgow, the history, the people, the lifestyle. The Warriors are really aspirational, have good people, and have created a great culture under Gregor."

Scottish Rugby Union chief executive Mark Dodson believes Rennie will be an ideal replacement for Townsend and expressed that the New Zealand born former Cook Islands player's experience with the Chiefs will benefit the Glasgow Warriors.

"It is a clear indication of the progress Scottish Rugby and Glasgow Warriors are making that we can attract a coach of Dave's experience to Scotland to work with our players.

"Gregor has developed a great winning culture at Glasgow Warriors and I'm very confident Dave will be able to build on that solid foundation to bring more success to the club.

"We have a group of talented Scottish players at Glasgow and we want to maintain their progress and this appointment will expose them to fresh ideas and new approaches to the game. Dave's experience at the Chiefs and at New Zealand age-grade level can only help to develop them and the team further."