Franco Smith appointed as new Glasgow boss

Former Italy boss Franco Smith has been appointed Glasgow Warriors head coach on a two-year deal.

Smith, 50, joins the URC side after a spell as Italy’s head of high performance.

Warriors parted with former head coach Danny Wilson in June, with his two-year spell ending with a 76-14 United Rugby Championship quarter-final defeat by Leinster.

“I have followed Glasgow for a long time, since coaching at Benetton when they joined the Pro12 in 2010,” said former Springbok Smith.

“The way they play has always appealed to me because their style is embraced by the fans.

“In coaching I always have these objectives: to play a winning brand of rugby; to have a style that is good to watch and that the fans can associate with.

“There are also opportunities at Glasgow to contribute to the pathway for up-and-coming players, making sure we are developing creative, fit and knowledgeable rugby players from a young age that we will bring all the way through to Scotland.”

Warriors begin their new URC campaign in Italy, against Benetton on the weekend of 16-18 September, and meet Cardiff in their first home game the following weekend.

Smith, who will take up his new post at the end of August, was capped as a back by South Africa nine times, and scored a try on his debut against Scotland at Murrayfield in 1997.

He has been head coach at Benetton and former Pro 14 club the Cheetahs.