Glasgow have farewelled Dave Rennie a month early, leaving the new Wallabies coach clear to direct all energy towards his Test job.
Incoming Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has agreed to end his contract with Scottish club Glasgow early, freeing him up to focus on his new role.
Glasgow announced Rennie would finish at the Warriors on Monday and hand over the head coaching reins to Scotland forward coach Danny Wilson.
The New Zealander had planned to see his club contract through and begin with Rugby Australia from July 1 but will now get an extra month to accelerate his Wallabies planning.
Rennie hasn’t coached since the indefinite suspension of the Pro14 league in mid-March, caused by COVID-19, and Glasgow managing director Nathan Bombrys said it was time to be pragmatic.
“With sport in Australia planning to return soon, making the change now will also allow Dave to begin his new role as head coach of the Australian national team,” Bombrys said.
“We are grateful to Dave for everything he has done for our club over the past three seasons, and particularly for how he has been supportive of the current situation, as well as his willingness to share his vast coaching knowledge with all of our coaches.”
Rennie has been in contact with his Wallabies assistants and RA for months but is clear now to direct all his energy towards reviving the stocks of the national team.
It is unclear when Rennie and wife Stephanie will travel to Australia, although reports in Scottish media suggest he will depart at the earliest opportunity.
They will likely face two weeks in isolation upon arrival in Sydney.
Former Chiefs coach Rennie led Glasgow to the final four of the Pro14 in his two full seasons in charge.
They reached the quarter-finals of the European Champions Cup last year but narrowly missed out on the last eight this season.
Scottish Rugby chief executive Mark Dodson said Rennie’s tenure had been a success.
“He has brought on a young, exciting group of players at Glasgow over that period, reached a Pro14 final and led his coaching group at the club superbly.”
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Mate, why have you kept this idea to yourself? This is a game changer. And so much detail. Hope the incoming RA CEO is reading
Jocko
Guest
Let’s keep spending millions on coaches and assistant coaches for a 40% win rate. How about nurturing good players thru healthy club comps and pathways.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Shute Shield
allblackfan
Guest
talk is they're going home to NZ first then to Aussie. So that's a 28 day lockdown at this stage.
Muglair
Roar Rookie
You can't always believe what is written or said, but the big upside of Rennie's appointment was to be the broader perspective he would bring to rugby development. When he finishes up, whether in 2023 or beyond, it would be great to have universal agreement that he leaves Australian Rugby in a better position than when he arrived in June 2020. How Johnson frames that, communicates it and manages it will be crucial for rugby over the next four years.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Plenty of time to watch super rugby repeats now
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Great. No doubt he's been planning and speaking to players and the leadership group from afar. Better to be standing in front of them (and his Assustants) on home soil.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I'd imagine it helps that the season is indefinitely postponed and currently looks like it won't get up and running before his contract ends anyway.
Thistle
Roar Rookie
When someone leaves a job with goodwill all round, it is often a measure of that person. Many thanks to Dave for his stint in Glasgow and good luck with the new job. Given the strong connection with the new coaching team in Oz and the Scotland scene, it would be great to see more collaboration between these old Unions. Both countries could benefit from young players having stints at provincial level away from home, national development XV's touring etc. Finally, I remember the electricity of watching Campese's Randwick play at the Melrose 7's, be great to see some great old Australian clubs play the Borders 7 circuit again.