Centre pair sign new deals with Glasgow Warriors

Glasgow Warriors have announced that centres Sam Johnson and Nick Grigg have extended their contracts at Scotstoun.

Glasgow Warriors centre Sam Johnson
Published 7th Feb 2017

Glasgow Warriors have announced that centres Sam Johnson and Nick Grigg have extended their contracts at Scotstoun.

Johnson has signed a new two-year deal, keeping him at the club until at least May 2019, while Grigg extended his contract by a further 12 months until May 2018.

Australia-born Johnson, 23, arrived from the Queensland Reds in 2015, has been a regular in the Warriors squad this season, playing 10 times.

Speaking to glasgowwarriors.org he said: "I'm loving my time at the club and I'm happy to continue my development in Glasgow for two more years.

"I definitely wanted to stay and Dave Rennie (current Chiefs coach who will take over Glasgow next season) was a major factor. The way Glasgow have performed lately it's definitely the best choice for me to stay for my own personal development.

"We're selling out the stadium every week and more and more people are getting excited about the club and where it's going and we've qualified for the quarter-finals of the European Rugby Champions Cup for the first time. If we continue down that road anything is possible for this club.

"I've been fortunate enough to play most of the European games inside Alex (Dunbar) and I get so much confidence playing with him.

"I'm looking forward to working with Dave Rennie next season. The Chiefs have been really successful since he's been there, so if he can bring that flair and continue that attack side of things I think that will help me develop.

"We've got huge games coming up starting with the Scarlets on Friday night. It's a really important time and we've got to continue the hard work on the pitch.''

The news comes a day after it was announced that Scotland centre Huw Jones will arrive at Scotstoun next season, while last week Scotland centre Dunbar signed a new two-year contract with the club.

New Zealand-born Grigg, 24, signed his first professional contract last year after coming through the BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academy.

Glasgow Warriors centre NIck Grigg

The 24-year-old was called up to train with the Scotland squad ahead of the 2016 Autumn International Series.

He said: "I'm pretty excited to see what the future holds for me for the rest of this season and next season and I'm stoked to get an extended deal from the club."

Warriors head coach Gregor Townsend said: Sam and Nick have played a good amount of rugby this season and have done really well when they've been given the opportunity.

"They are familiar playing with each other, having done so at Stirling County last year and for the Warriors this season.

"They work really hard and are keen to learn and it is great that they've both committed their futures to the club."