Franco Smith on Glasgow Warriors' battle to key top star

Bristol Bears confirmed the signature of Jordan during the international break, where the 26-year-old made his Scotland debut after gaining eligibility as a result of his time at Glasgow. 

It’s understood that Jordan will earn around £300,000 a year in England and that offer was simply impossible to refuse during a period of financial uncertainty in Scotland.

The SRU released bleak financial results earlier this month with a deficit of £11m for the 13-month period to June 2024. 

Sione Tuipulotu and Stafford McDowall committed their futures to Glasgow recently but Smith’s squad is packed with Scotland internationals and it could prove financially prohibitive to keep them all over the next few seasons. 

Warriors head coach Smith accepts interest has increased in his players after their URC success and he’s ‘proud’ when they gain recognition. But the South African is determined to keep his star players and cited the importance of Glasgow maximising revenue sources - like the 1872 Cup game at Hampden.

“I’m obviously heartbroken with everybody that leaves the club,” Smith confessed. “I always feel I could have done something better on my part to avoid it.. But again, everybody's stock has risen here and to make sure that we stay competitive. Obviously, if the guys get such big opportunities, we must be proud.

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“Myself, my coaching group and the club must be really proud, if somebody gets an opportunity which they can't say no to. So I take that as a compliment.

“Now it's important to manage the players well within this budget, but hopefully through the brand we play and the quality of the coaching and the development programme that we have, we'll be able to produce the next generation of players and to keep the players that we can, which is important from that perspective.

“I'm excited to say that we have had a 96% retention rate in all the years that I've been here. And it will always be that mission to keep the boys that are playing well and who can develop into becoming the best version of themselves. But for now if people come to Hampden, it will obviously help a lot with how we can manage keeping the players here.”

After a month-long hiatus for the Autumn Nations Series, Glasgow return to action on Friday night when they welcome the Scarlets to Scotstoun. 

The Warriors entered the international break with a stunning win away in South Africa against the Stormers and they’ll be bolstered by seven returning Scotland internationals - George Horne, Adam Hastings, Tom Jordan, Kyle Rowe, Stafford McDowall, Alex Samuel and Johnny Matthews. 

“Look, obviously it says so much about the character of our boys and their willingness to contribute and to keep growing and to keep going forward in this competition," said Smith. "The fact that they've made themselves available. There's a plan with how we're going to manage them and how we're going to introduce everybody. But the fact that they jumped straight at it - I'm proud of them.

“I thought they played well. All of them contributed massively. It was fantastic to see Tom make his debut and he contributed amazingly in different positions.

Smith has named three debutants in his squad for the Scarlets with Fin Richardson and lock Jare Oguntibeju handed starts with Macenzzie Duncan on the bench with Spurs urging them to maximise their chance to impress. 

Smith said: “This week has been about the new guys that get an opportunity now. All the hard work in the pre-season and everything that led up to them now getting a chance. So hopefully we can blend the experienced guys and a bit of the internationals that's there with the young boys that's now going to start their journey.”

It will be a poignant night under the Scotstoun lights for Jack Mann. The back row will pull on the Glasgow shirt for the first time in almost two years due to injury and Smith hopes Mann can kick start his career.

(Image: SNS Group)

“I think that I'm a dream giver, if I put it that way,” Smith added. “I like to see people arriving at their destiny. He's been patient with his head injury and he's come back from it well. He's worked really hard from a physical development perspective.

Smith also provided some positive injury news with long-term absentee Ollie Smith nearing a return but he was more pessimistic on three other Scotland internationals in comparison to Nigel Carolan’s optimism on Monday. 

“I think Ollie and Euan Ferrie are closer,” Smith admitted. “Sione Vailanu, JP, Jack Dempsey, Max Williamson and Gregor Brown, end of January, maybe middle of January, they'll be back. Kyle Steyn is progressing nicely. We hope to see him before Christmas. A bunch of fresh boys, hopefully, will be coming in at the right time.”

With a host of Scotland stars still unavailable, Smith has remarkably named four hookers in his squad to face the Scarlets but the Warriors head coach joked that they might all be on the pitch at the same time on Friday.

Smith added: "They're all good rugby players. Gus Fraser will be itching to contribute this season. Gregor Hiddleston used to be a six anyway, so it’s good to see him running around the park.

"Obviously, Cheese [Grant Stewart] and Johnny Matthews need no introduction. They were both also loose forwards before, so you never know. You might see all of them out there at some point!”