Turner agrees new deal with Glasgow Warriors

• 13 Apr 2022

Glasgow Warriors have secured the services of another established Scotland star ahead of the 2022/23 season, after hooker George Turner put pen to paper on a new contract extension with Danny Wilson’s squad.

The 29-year-old follows in the recent footsteps of fellow Scotland internationals Oli Kebble and Jamie Bhatti in extending his stay in Glasgow’s west end, with Zander Fagerson, Enrique Pieretto and Johnny Matthews all also having extended their contracts with the club ahead of the new campaign.

Having initially made the switch to Scotstoun on a season-long loan ahead of the 2017/18 season, the former Macphail Scholarship recipient has gone from strength to strength in Glasgow colours, becoming an integral member of the pack for both club and country.

A debut away to Connacht in September 2017 was the first of 71 Glasgow appearances for Turner to date, with the hooker making an immediate impression upon the Warrior Nation.

An industrious debut campaign saw the Edinburgh native receive a nomination for McCrea Financial Services Player of the Season, showcasing the physicality in attack and defence that have become hallmarks of the hooker’s game.

Turner’s keen nose for the try-line has also seen him cross for 13 tries for the Warriors in his five years at the club to date, his dynamism with ball in hand making him a valuable weapon in the club’s arsenal.

His form in a Glasgow jersey saw him rewarded with a senior Scotland debut against Samoa in November 2017, quickly making himself at home on the international stage.

A hat-trick against Canada in Edmonton on the 2018 summer tour saw him become the first Scotland player to score a treble since Ally Hogg at the 2007 Rugby World Cup, whilst only Stuart McInally can claim to have scored more tries as a hooker in the famous dark blue shirt.

Turner marked his first Guinness Six Nations start in style in February 2021, providing the crucial assist for Duhan van der Merwe in the famous 11-6 win over England at Twickenham to secure a first Calcutta Cup win in London since 1983.

His form for Scotland saw Turner named as the Harper Macleod Test Player of the Season as part of the 2020/2021 Glasgow Warriors Awards Week, with the hooker subsequently playing a part in each of his country’s five matches in the 2022 Guinness Six Nations.

“I’m really happy to be staying with the Warriors,” the hooker told glasgowwarriors.org.

“I’ve grown my game massively in my time here, I feel like I’ve still got more to give and I think this is the place that will allow me to push on and develop.

“I love being here. Glasgow Warriors gave me my chance and I can’t wait to keep going.

“The club is in a great place -we’ve got some great young boys coming through, we’ve made some exciting signings in recent years and there are even more to come. It’s a great time to be a Glasgow Warrior.

“We have a massive eight weeks ahead of us and we’re all looking to keep pushing forward.”

Head Coach Danny Wilson added: “George has really hit his stride in the last year. He’s been outstanding for both us and Scotland.

“He’s a dynamic and physical attacker and equally, in defence, he puts his body on the line and provides plenty of big collisions.

“We’re all looking forward to continuing to work with him and seeing him develop here in a Warriors jersey.”