Glasgow Warriors confirm 2025/26 leavers

Sione Vailanu will move on following a four-year stint as a Glasgow Warrior, joining the six players – Jamie Bhatti, Jack Dempsey, Adam Hastings Huw Jones and Johnny Matthews, plus the retiring Duncan Weir – whose departures have previously been announced.

Supporters will have a chance to recognise and celebrate the efforts of the 2025/26 leavers following the final match of the regular season at Scotstoun, which takes place as the Warriors host Cardiff this Friday night in the club’s annual Plaster It Purple fixture.

Hear from Melody and Frank on the impact of the Play Team and how money raised by the Warrior Nation over the years has made some of the work they do possible! 💜

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— Glasgow Warriors (@GlasgowWarriors) May 4, 2026

Paying tribute to those leaving the club, Head Coach Franco Smith told glasgowwarriors.org:

“I would like to thank each of our leavers for their commitment to this club during their time here. Each player made a real contribution during their time at Scotstoun, giving their all for the jersey and the Warrior Nation each time they set foot on the field.

“It takes a full squad effort to build what we are building, and the commitment of each of our leavers has allowed us to create some incredibly special memories during their time here.

“We would like to wish each of them and their families all the very best for the future – they are all welcome back at Scotstoun at any point. Once a Warrior, always a Warrior.”

The players that will be recognised this Friday night – by order of appearances to date for Glasgow Warriors – are:

Duncan Weir | Warrior #181 | 163 appearances

Weir’s retirement from the professional sport was announced prior to January’s clash with Zebre Parma at Scotstoun, the fly-half moving into a new role overseeing the young backline talents in the Glasgow Warriors academy.

Only Dan Parks and Tommy Hayes have scored more points than Weir in a Glasgow jersey, racking up 967 points across two spells as a Warrior in a playing career that also saw him help his hometown club to league title victories in 2015 and 2024.

He marked his final appearance in the most memorable of fashions, crossing for a try in front of the East Stand against Zebre Parma to raise the roof at Scotstoun.

Jamie Bhatti | Warrior #274 | 134 appearances

A product of Hillfoots RFC, Bhatti has been a dependable presence at loose-head for the Warriors across both of his spells at Scotstoun.

Having returned to the club ahead of the 2021/22 season, the prop became the club’s 55^th centurion when he led the team out at Scotstoun against the Dragons for his 100^th appearance in February 2024.

Bhatti was a key presence in the 2023/24 BKT URC-winning side, starting all three knockout matches at loose-head, including the Grand Final victory over the Vodacom Bulls in Pretoria.

Johnny Matthews | Warrior #306 | 106 appearances

A firm favourite of the Warrior Nation in the front-row, Matthews has already written his name into Glasgow Warriors folklore on multiple occasions as he prepares for his final regular-season run-out at Scotstoun.

The hooker sits third in the club’s all-time try-scoring chart with 51 tries to date, behind only DTH van der Merwe and George Horne in the colours of Glasgow Warriors.

He became the first – and to date, only – player to score five tries in a single match for the Warriors when he achieved the feat against the Dragons in 2023, finished as the top try-scorer in the BKT URC in 2023/24 campaign, and marked his 100^th appearance for the club with a try off the bench in a 49-0 win over the Dragons in October 2025.

Adam Hastings | Warrior #286 | 88 appearances

Hastings departs Scotstoun after two spells as a Warrior, accumulating 537 points to date in a Glasgow jersey.

He passed the 500-point barrier earlier this season, becoming just the sixth player to reach the milestone for the club.

The fly-half earned Player of the Match honours in December’s famous victory over Stade Toulousain at Scotstoun, helping his side come from 21-0 down to claim a 28-21 triumph over the French giants.

Huw Jones | Warrior #294 | 87 appearances

Another to have enjoyed two spells as a Glasgow Warrior, Jones departs Scotstoun after becoming one of the world’s premier centres under Franco Smith.

His try in the 2024 BKT URC Grand Final victory at Loftus Versfeld ultimately proved decisive, as he helped his side lift the trophy in iconic fashion.

The centre’s form for both Glasgow Warriors and Scotland saw him earn selection for the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour of Australia, playing in all three Tests and scoring in the decisive second Test to help his team to a series victory.

Jack Dempsey | Warrior #331 | 67 appearances

A towering presence at the base of the scrum, Dempsey’s ball-carrying has seen him become another firm favourite of the Warrior Nation since his Glasgow debut away to Ulster in 2021.

He topped the tackle count in the 2024 BKT URC Grand Final, marking his 50^th appearance for the club with a winner’s medal at Loftus Versfeld.

The number eight’s form this season saw him nominated for the Investec Player of the Season award in the Investec Champions Cup, a series of barnstorming performances spearheading the Glasgow charge to the knockout stages.

Sione Vailanu | Warrior #345 | 41 appearances

Tongan international Vailanu’s brand of destructive ball-carrying has become a familiar sight at Scotstoun, having made an impressive impact since arriving from Worcester Warriors in 2022.

A sensational solo effort from 60 metres in a 37-0 win over Benetton on his first start at Scotstoun gave the Warrior Nation a taste of what was to come, as he helped his side to a first-ever European final by featuring prominently on Glasgow’s run to the 2023 EPCR Challenge Cup final in Dublin.

His return from a long-term injury layoff last season saw Vailanu continue where he had left off, including a memorable score in victory over Leicester Tigers in the last-16 of the 2024/25 Investec Champions Cup.