Nick Ryan and Duncan Weir join Warriors Academy coaching team

Nick Ryan has been announced as Glasgow Warriors Academy Manager, with Duncan Weir also joining the coaching staff to develop the next generation of players.

Nick Ryan joins from his position as Director of Rugby at Sydney University Football Club where he has worked for five years. He previously headed up the pathway at Melbourne Rebels for three years.

Weir won the 2014/15 Pro12 with Warriors in his first spell at the club, before moving to Edinburgh Rugby for two years. He then went to Worcester Warriors before returning to Glasgow in 2021.

He racked up 30 caps for Scotland in his career, debuting back in 2012. His new coaching role will see him step back from playing.

The duo are joined by Shade Munro who continues in his role within the Academy set-up having previously been head coach of Scotland Women and assistant coach of Glasgow Warriors.

Head of Performance Pathways Al Kellock said: “Nick Ryan brings a wealth of experience from an academy level of coaching. He’ll run the programme but will also do a lot of coaching on the pitch.

“His experience and deep knowledge of pathway rugby will help with the development of the young players at Glasgow Warriors.

“Duncan Weir will also be a brilliant asset to the coaching team. He demands respect for what he’s achieved in his career and will be a role model for the younger players to look upto. He has also developed a lot of recent coaching experience, with the Warriors, the academy players and with Glasgow Accies.

“He has been a model professional throughout his career and playing up until 34 is testament to the discipline and determination he’s had throughout his career. He has given an incredible amount to Glasgow Warriors and his success is unrivalled as the only player to be part of both championship wins. He has been one of the most popular players in the dressing room and in the stands. We are delighted that he will now bring the same energy and passion to developing our young players.

“Along with Henry Pyrgos at Edinburgh and Greig Laidlaw as Scotland U20 assistant coach it is great to have former players within our pathway system for our young players to learn from.

“Both Duncan and Nick will work well with Shade who I know well from my time at the club. He is very experienced and knowledgeable about what it takes to bring through the next generation of players.”

Glasgow Warriors Academy Manager Nick Ryan said: “Joining Glasgow Warriors is incredibly exciting for me and it’s a huge honour to be part of the club.

“The Warriors are well renowned across the world given what they have achieved recently and a lot of that success has been born out of young players who have come through their academy system.

“It is testament to the work that has gone on at Scotstoun and I am looking forward to adding to that, and continue to drive it forward.

“Having someone like Duncan joining is brilliant as he knows the club like the back of his hand and the current academy players will look upto him.

“Shade Munro is really experienced and working with him will be brilliant for myself given his deep knowledge of the game in Scotland.”

Duncan Weir said: “I’m really looking forward to working with Nick, who’s bringing so much experience over from Australia, and with Shade, who I’ve obviously known for a long time. Having such a solid foundation is going to serve me well in the new role, and is going to serve Glasgow Warriors well long-term.

“I’m really excited by the new role. As a player I remember the transitional period you go through when moving from the academy to the senior squad, and the prospect of being a mentor to these young backs is something that I’m looking forward to.

“We want to graduate as many of our academy players to the pro game as possible – that’s my goal in the new position, and seeing young backs go from the academy to long and decorated careers for Glasgow Warriors and Scotland would be something that would fill me with great pride.

“It’s sad to close the door a bit on the playing side, but coaching has always been a passion of mine. Since moving back to Glasgow from Worcester, it was always the plan to move into coaching following my playing career, so to have the opportunity to do that now is hugely exciting.”