Glasgow Warriors Ireland international Ian Keatley for remainder of 2020/21 season

Ian Keatley joins Glasgow Warriors on short-term deal
Ian Keatley joins Glasgow Warriors on short-term deal
©PA

Ireland international Ian Keatley has joined Glasgow Warriors after signing a short-term deal until the end of the 2020/21 season.

Keatley is third in the list of the highest point-scorer in Pro14 history after Dan Parks and Dan Biggar as he had amassed 1,524 points over 13 seasons. He started his professional rugby career with Leinster in 2007 and switched to Connacht in 2008.

The 33-year-old spent eight years playing for Munster and also played for London Irish and Benetton. He will now be available for the Scottish regional club for the remainder of the Pro14 season and also for the Rainbow Nations Cup.

“It’s a strange time to be joining the team with everything that’s going on with COVID, however I’m really happy to be joining a club and a city with a proud rugby history.

“I’m looking forward to being able to start on a fresh slate with Glasgow and I’m excited to begin working with Danny and his coaching team.

“This club is a top-quality outfit and I’m relishing the chance to be able to play alongside some of its top-quality talent.”

Keatley also represented Ireland between 2009 and 2017 and becomes the first Irish international to represent Glasgow Warriors since James Downey, the centre having pulled on a Glasgow shirt on seven occasions in the 2014/15 campaign.

“Ian has been a fantastic player over the years for Munster, Connacht and more recently at Benetton," said Glasgow head coach Danny Wilson.

“His experience will be great from a performance point of view. He will also be invaluable to the development of our young players, including the likes of Ross Thompson, and also enable us to look at Pete [Horne] in his natural position of inside centre.”