Glasgow Warriors have confirmed the players set to leave the club at the end of the season.
Nine members of the current squad are to head to pastures new at the end of the season, along with head coach Sean Lineen and defence coach Gary Mercer.
Forwards Johnnie Beattie, Calum Forrester, Richie Gray, Fergus Thomson and Rob Verbakel are all set to move on, as are backs Federico Aramburu, Rob Dewey, David Lemi, and Colin Shaw.
Beattie, Gray, Lemi, Mercer and Lineen were all known, but there are a few new – if not surprising – revelations in that list.
We’ve heard rumours about the departure of the long-injured Fergus Thomson in recent months, and it may be no surprise that Rob Dewey is on his way too, as he has never really been fully fit since he left Edinburgh years ago. Perhaps he is set to join Tom Phillip or Marcus Di Rollo on the list of MIA Edinburgh “could have been decent” centres.
Others who will bid farewell to Firhill – but not say hello to Scotstoun – are forwards Forrester and Verbakel and backs Fede “Irn-Bru” Aramburu and Colin Shaw. With the rise of Chris Fusaro and Ryan Wilson this season as well as the others present in the Glasgow back-row unit, and the players incoming next season it was always going to be hard for Forrester. The same goes for Verbakel who has also failed to make much of a mark with Kellock and Gray ahead of him and a top operator in Swinson coming in next season.
Irn-Bru going is a bit of a surprise as he has been pretty decent for Glasgow over the last couple of years; perhaps not Stortoni level, but effective. With Seymour and Hogg becoming regular fixtures in the back 3 though and hopefully two fit Lamonts next season, his cover may be deemed surplus to requirements alongside Lemi. Shaw too is a bit of a surprise but may be for the same reasons.
FEDERICO ARAMBURU – 40 Warriors appearances, 20 points (4T)
JOHNNIE BEATTIE – 136 Warriors appearances, 55 points (11T)
ROB DEWEY – 26 Warriors appearances, 20 points (4T)
CALUM FORRESTER – 46 Warriors appearances, 5 points (1T)
RICHIE GRAY – 45 Warriors appearances, 20 points (4T)
DAVID LEMI – 10 Warriors appearances, 0 points
COLIN SHAW – 72 Warriors appearances, 55 points (11T)
FERGUS THOMSON – 124 Warriors appearances, 20 points (4T)
ROB VERBAKEL – 10 Warriors appearances, 0 points
We wish them all the best with whatever they do next. In Richie’s case, tearing up the Premiership.
They will get a chance to say goodbye to the fans next weekend during the last regular season match of the RaboDirect PRO12 at Firhill, against Connacht. Connacht have won their last 3 games against Glasgow, who need to draw or win to secure a play-off spot.
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Anyone know where Fergus Thomson is going ? The guy was really unlucky with injuries … had him pegged to overtake Hall as Glasgow’s no. 2 and challenge Ford for the top spot. All the best Fergus !