Warriors awards kick off
GLASGOW Warriors have kicked off a four-day programme of end-of-season award announcements by naming the first three recipients of the annual prizes. Jamie Dobie has been named Young Player of the Year, Rob Harley has received the Famous Grouse Coaches’ Award, and the Malcolm Group Al Kellock Leadership Award has gone to Ryan Wilson.
Dobie, who will celebrate his 19th birthday on Sunday, has broken through this season to emerge as an able deputy to first-choice scrum-half George Horne. The first player born this century to be signed by Glasgow, he has made eight appearances this season, impressing Dave Rennie with his robust physicality.
Harley, who has made a record number of Warriors appearances, was another to impress Rennie with his commitment to the cause whether he was playing at lock or in the back row, from the start or off the bench.
“I reckon he’s a better athlete now than he was three years ago,” the coach said last week. “He’s put a lot of emphasis on his agility and speed, he’s worked really hard on his skill set, and that’s the reason Rob plays every week.
“He’s very intelligent, has real attention to detail and is durable, just keeps going. He’s someone who’s always trying to learn and be better.”
Wilson was Glasgow’s sole captain in Rennie’s first season in charge and for the last two campaigns has shared the responsibility with his fellow-back-row-forward Callum Gibbins, who has now will officially leave at the end of this month.