Grigg to depart Glasgow Warriors

Scotland international Nick Grigg will be moving on from Glasgow Warriors at the end of the calendar year, after agreeing an early release from his contract to take up an offer from Japanese side NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes.

The centre
departs Scotstoun after nearly six years with the Warriors, having made his
debut in a 12-6 victory over Leinster back in March 2016.

Renowned for
his direct and powerful carrying in midfield, the 29-year-old has made 95
appearances to date in Glasgow colours, including helping the club to two
Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals and the 2019 Guinness PRO14 Final at
Celtic Park.

Grigg’s form
in his debut season as a professional was recognised by his team-mates, the
former Petone man being voted as Players’ Player of the Season for the 2016/17
campaign.

His keen
nose for the try-line has also seen him cross for 20 tries for the Warriors,
including finishing off a memorable Niko Matawalu break against Leinster in
2017 and diving over for the sole Glasgow score in a famous 29-20 win over the
Scarlets at Scotstoun in December 2018.

The
midfielder’s form in club colours saw him selected for the Scotland summer tour
in 2017, making his international debut away to Fiji in Suva.

His tally of
nine international caps to date includes a home debut off the bench against
England in 2018, helping his side to a 25-13 victory over the Auld Enemy.

Grigg will
link up with his new side in the New Year as they prepare for the inaugural
Japan Rugby League One season, with the Osaka-based franchise having also added
South Africa fly-half Elton Jantjies to their squad ahead of the new campaign.

“Playing for
Glasgow Warriors has completely changed my life for the better and I’ve loved
every minute of it,” Grigg told glasgowwarriors.org.

“It was such
a scary thing to do to leave your home country and to move to the other side of
the world, but the prospect of playing at Glasgow Warriors and playing
professional rugby was too good to turn down.

“It’s been
so good being a Glasgow Warrior. Everyone who comes into the club comments on
how good the environment here is – the players, the people and the culture –
and I’ve got to experience than that for six years. It’s what makes this club
so special and it’s going to be sad to leave.

“There have
been a lot of highlights for me both on and off the pitch at Glasgow. I’ll
always remember my first cap against Leinster back in March 2016, and my 50th
against Scarlets when we went down to 14 men early on and still got the victory
– there have been so many amazing moments.

“It’s sad to
leave Glasgow but I’m looking forward to my next adventure. Danny [Wilson], Al [Kellock] and my agent Tom Beattie have worked hard and given me the chance to take this new
opportunity – it’s a fresh start for me.

“I’ll be
closer to home and my family, and I get to experience a new culture. Again,
it’s quite scary but when I made that move here it completely changed my life.
I’m going to miss Glasgow, the fans and the boys but it’s going to be another
amazing experience to move over to Japan and play rugby.”

Head Coach
Danny Wilson paid tribute to the centre, adding: “Nick is a well-liked
character within our squad who has had some really good performances in a
Glasgow Warriors shirt over the past six seasons.

“He’s someone
who always gave his all for the club, and who was never afraid to front up to
the challenge in front of him.

“He’ll be
missed in our environment and we wish him all the best for the future as he
starts the next chapter of his career in Japan.”