Ever since he arrived at Scotstoun almost four years ago, Franco Smith has professed to being a man with a plan. Not just for the next game, or that week’s training, but for the long-term success of Glasgow Warriors.
So while the 2025/26 campaign which promised so much ended in bitter disappointment as Glasgow failed to capitalise on home advantage in the Champions Cup and URC latter stages, there can be little doubt their South African head coach will already be plotting their success for next season.
A big part of that planning is already almost complete, with Smith constructing his squad. This time last year, he was bemoaning the departures of Sebastian Cancelliere and Henco Venter, two men who were instrumental in the 2024 URC title win.
Their value, as has been well documented by now, was about more than their contributions to the big games. They offered Smith experience when he was forced to make do without his Scotland contingent at key times.
Smith was clear that to be successful, he needed to be able to sign non-Scottish qualified players, to add their experience so as not to be solely reliant on a crop of youngsters when an ever-growing group of internationals are summoned by Gregor Townsend.
And he has got that wish this summer. South African back-row Ruwald van der Merwe will arrive from Currie Cup side Pumas and Australian back Bayley Kuenzle will join from Western Force.
They appear to be just the type of signings Glasgow are looking for. When Glasgow confirmed the deal for Van der Merwe, 27, Smith singled out his work ethic, while the Warriors boss said Kuenzle would “add to the environment on and off the field”.
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With budgets tight and SRU performance director David Nucifora clamping down on foreign players arriving, every player must represent value for money.
That applies to those already at Scotstoun, and when viewed through that lens, it is why one of the club’s big-name summer departures should not be of major concern.
Across his two spells at the club, Glasgow Warriors have had the best of Huw Jones. In his first stint at Scotstoun, he established himself as part of the Scotland set-up, having initially broken through at the Stormers.
He was a magnificent attacking threat, but upon his arrival there were questions about his defensive game.
A difficult period under Dave Rennie, now the All Blacks coach, affected Jones’ progress. Even when Rennie left and Danny Wilson took over, Jones found himself playing at fullback.
He dropped down the international pecking order as a result, with Chris Harris becoming Scotland’s go-to man in the 13 jersey and earning a place on the 2021 British & Irish Lions tour.
Jones sought a fresh start ahead of the 2021/22 season, and when a move to Bayonne fell through due to the French side’s relegation, he spent a year at Harlequins before returning to Scotstoun.
In his second spell, he sparked up a simply magnificent relationship with Sione Tuipulotu, with the pairing dubbed ‘Huwipulotu’ going on to represent Scotland and the Lions together.
At one stage, many regarded them as one of the best, if not the very best, centre partnerships in the world.
Given the constraints of Scottish Rugby’s two professional clubs, it is very rare that players at the peak of their powers stay in Scotland with lucrative offers from France and England.
It is no surprise Jones has decided to take advantage of one such offer and join Toulon next season.
But his departure should not concern Glasgow fans unduly.
Jones is now 32 and for the past 18 months has been plagued by Achilles problem that Franco Smith has said will require management for the rest of his career.
And he only managed six appearances in 2025/26.
An operation on the aforementioned Achilles saw Jones’ return from Lions duty delayed until January, before a run of three games that saw him picked for Scotland in the Six Nations.
He managed just one game after before another injury struck that kept the 63-times capped Scotland international out until April’s tour to South Africa.
He then did not feature in the play-off matches, with Stafford McDowall preferred.
And it is chiefly the emergence of McDowall as an integral part of the Warriors squad that means the departure of Jones should be viewed as shrewd business.
In stark contrast to Jones’ injury-hit campaign, McDowall played 24 times for Franco Smith’s side in the season just finished and twice more for Scotland.
He also proved just at home in the 13 jersey as he had been previously when picked at 12 and struck up a good understanding alongside Tuipulotu.
They should be the first-choice midfield pair moving forward.
But it is not just McDowall that means Glasgow need not panic over the loss of one of their Lions stars from 12 months ago. When it come to the midfield, the Warriors are not short of options.
Former Scotland U20 captains Duncan Munn – who will spend the summer getting vital game-time in Australia – and Johnny Ventisei will push for selection.
Add to that list Kerr Yule, who impressed on his four outings this season and will learn a huge amount from being with the senior Scotland squad this week.
Throw Kuenzle into the mix and there is definitely no reason to panic for Warriors fans. Indeed, the club deserve credit for not panicking when confronted with Jones’ departure and trusting in Smith’s long-term planning.
For all Jones’ brilliance, Glasgow Warriors cannot afford to make decisions based on sentiment.
Smith has spent four years building a squad designed to withstand the loss of key players, whether through injury, international duty or lucrative moves elsewhere.
Jones said this week his decision to join Toulon was an easy one. It should have been an equally straightforward decision, too, for Scotstoun bosses to let him pursue a move to France.
His departure is, of course, significant because of what he has given the club, but it is not a crisis because Glasgow have already prepared for life without him.
In McDowall they have a proven successor, while a new generation waits in the wings and fresh recruits arrive to strengthen the group.
The loss of a star name may grab the headlines, but Glasgow’s willingness to trust that process could yet prove one of their smartest decisions of the summer.
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