The 2019–20 season will see Glasgow Warriors compete in the competitions: the Guinness Pro14 and the European Champions Cup. Due to the coronavirus pandemic the season was postponed in May 2020. It continued with a very restricted season finale in August 2020.
Season overview
New logo, new website
The logo of Glasgow Warriors - apart from a very short spell when the club was deemed Glasgow Caledonians (on the merger with the Caledonia Reds) – was essentially the same for 23 years since the club turned professional. It was that of a Strathclyde warrior wearing a nasal spangenhelm helmet holding a rugby ball and a targe.
The new logo is still of a Strathclyde warrior with a spangenhelm helmet but the similarities end there. Only the warrior's head is now visible; the warrior is now bearded; there is no rugby ball; no targe. Instead in a nod to the old Glasgow District badge logo a saltire is in the background and the words Glasgow Warriors are part of the design below the Strathclyde warrior.
The whole impression is now much more like an American NHL or NFL design.
The club website also was updated. Rebranded with the new logo it was termed a 'mobile first' design given that 75% of its hits were from mobile phones.
Rennie's last season
On 19 November 2019 Glasgow Warriors announced that their Head Coach Dave Rennie will be leaving the club at the end of the 2019–20 season. Dave Rennie was headhunted by Rugby Australia after Michael Cheika announced he would quit on 31 December 2019 after the Australia team's lacklustre showing in the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.
Next coach announced
The Glasgow Warriors board and the Scottish Rugby Union wasted no time in announcing Dave Rennie's successor in the Head Coach role at the club. The very next day from the Rennie announcement, on 20 November 2019, came the news that the Scotland forwards coach Danny Wilson would take over as Head Coach at Glasgow Warriors in the summer of 2020. Wilson took over on 1 June 2020.
Coronavirus pandemic
Due to the pandemic of the deadly COVID-19 strain of coronavirus, the Pro14 suspended all matches in March 2020 to the end of the season. The final, due to take place in Cardiff, was cancelled. If the final was to be played, the team with the highest league ranking points would instead host the match.
The 2019–20 season was extended due to coronavirus. It was to resume in August with teams playing 2 matches against the other teams in the Pro14 that had the same nationality. For Glasgow Warriors this meant that two matches were to be played against Edinburgh Rugby. More controversially, the Pro14 dropped the quarter finals which effectively meant that Glasgow Warriors would not make the play-offs in this season.
New co-captain pairing
With Callum Gibbins leaving the club, Danny Wilson announced that Fraser Brown would become the new co-captain of the club. Ryan Wilson retained his place as the other co-captain.
Team
Coaches
Head Coach: Dave Rennie (to May 2020) then Danny Wilson (from June 2020) Assistant Coach: Kenny Murray Assistant Coach: Jason O'Halloran Forwards Coach: John Dalziel Head Strength and Conditioning Coach: Brad Mayo Asst. Strength and Conditioning Coach: Liam Walshe Asst. Strength and Conditioning Coach: Jonathan Harris-Wright Lead Performance Analyst: Greg Woolard Asst. Performance Analyst: Graham O'Riordan
Staff
Managing Director: Nathan Bombrys
Chairman: Charles Shaw
Advisory Group: Walter Malcolm, Douglas McCrea, Alan Lees, Jim Preston, Paul Taylor Rugby Operations Manager: John Manson (to September 2019) Kit Manager & Masseur: Dougie Mills Clinical Manager and Team Physiotherapist: Team Doctor: Dr. Jonathan Hanson Commercial Operations Manager: Alastair Kellock Communications Manager: Jeremy Bone Communications Asst: Jack Reid Content Producer: Graeme Thomson Marketing Insight Executive: Claire Scott Operations Manager: James Acheson Marketing and Partnerships Manager: Darroch Ramsay Partnership Sales Manager: Ross Curle Partnership Account Manager: Oliver Norman Partnership Account Manager: Jim Taylor Community Manager: Lindsey Smith Community Rugby Coach: Stuart Lewis
Squad
Scottish Rugby Academy Stage 3 players
These players are given a professional contract by the Scottish Rugby Academy. Although given placements they are not contracted by Glasgow Warriors. Players graduate from the Academy when a professional club contract is offered.
These players are assigned to Glasgow Warriors for the season 2019–20.
Academy players promoted in the course of the season are listed with the main squad.