McKay ready for more after Glasgow Warriors renewal

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - OCTOBER 28: Josh McKay in action for Warriors during a BKT United Rugby Championship match between Glasgow Warriors and Benetton at Scotstoun Stadium, on October 28, 2022, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group)

The Christchurch native – who initially shot to prominence as part of the all-conquering New Zealand U20 side that claimed World Rugby U20 Championship gold in 2017, and qualifies for a British ancestry visa through his grandmother – has become an integral part of the Glasgow Warriors squad since arriving at Scotstoun in November 2021, a series of impressive performances endearing him to the Warrior Nation.

His debut came in victory over the Dragons at Scotstoun in December 2021, becoming the 338^th player to pull on a Glasgow Warriors jersey in the professional era.

Equally as comfortable on the wing as he is at full-back, McKay has touched down for eight tries in his 27 appearances in all competitions to date, most recently in the 50-8 victory over Zebre Parma at Scotstoun in March.

The 25-year-old has also represented Canterbury with distinction in the Mitre10 Cup, crossing for 11 tries in 11 outings for the men in red and black in 2019.

A keen outdoorsman, McKay is also the cousin of New Zealand international footballer Meikayla Moore, who has represented Glasgow City this season.

“In the end it was a really easy decision [to re-sign],” McKay told glasgowwarriors.org.

“I absolutely love the direction in which this club is travelling, and when I sat down and thought about what I want to do over the next couple of years it really aligns with the vision of everyone here at Scotstoun.

“We’ve got the freedom to play and have a go, and playing in the back three that’s exactly what you want to hear – you want to do your bit for the team and help the group excel. It certainly suits the style of rugby I love to play and I’m really excited for what comes next.

“Glasgow’s an awesome city to be a part of, too – when I initially moved over from New Zealand, I didn’t really know what to expect, but I’ve absolutely loved getting settled into the city. We live near a lot of the boys and it’s a really good environment in which to live and work.

“First and foremost I want to get back fully fit and firing, so the focus for me now is to get my foot right and then get ready to attack next season. I can’t wait.”

Head Coach Franco Smith added: “We’re pleased that Josh has committed his future to us for the next couple of seasons.

“He’s a model professional that brings a great attitude and desire to improve to every training session, and his ability to play on both the wing and at full-back is a real asset to us as a squad.

“He comes to Scotstoun each day with a real drive to be the best version of himself that he can be and we look forward to continuing to work with him over the coming seasons.”