Although Nigel Carolan is optimistic that Franco Smith will remain with Glasgow Warriors, he also says that the head coach’s success there will undoubtedly attract interest from other teams.
The 52-year-old Smith, who guided the Warriors to an incredible victory in the United Rugby Championship the previous season, has been connected to both the Leicester Tigers and Wales in recent weeks.
When the former South African international acknowledged in a TV interview prior to Glasgow’s most recent match against the Dragons that he would like to eventually return to coaching for his country, it did little to quell the rumors.
Smith had a spell in charge of Italy between 2019 and 2021 and has strong links with Wales, having spent a season playing for Newport during which time his son, Franco jnr, was born in the city.
But Carolan, an assistant coach at Glasgow, said Smith was “making massive plans” for the future with the Warriors.
“He’s done wonderful work since he’s been here,” said Carolan, who is in charge of the Glasgow attack. “If his name gets bandied around in the media then good and that’s down to the work that he’s done and the position of Glasgow Warriors. That’s helped Scottish rugby as well.
He’s very coy, and he’s committed to Glasgow Warriors. At the moment, as far as we’re concerned, he’s not going anywhere. He’s making massive plans here for the future.
He has told me his plans are to stay here. At the moment he’s 100 per cent committed to Glasgow Warriors.”
Michael Cheika, formerly in charge of Australia and Argentina, is thought to be the front runner to succeed Warren Gatland as permanent Wales head coach but Smith and interim Ireland head coach Simon Easterby have also been linked with the job, although the latter distanced himself from the vacancy.
Cheika has announced that he will be standing down as head coach of Leicester when his contract expires at the end of the season and Smith has also been linked with the soon-to-be-vacant position at Welford Road.
Smith’s contract expires at the end of next season and Scottish Rugby will be keen to hang on to him. Many see Smith as the natural successor to Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend whose current deal expires in April 2026.
