Coach Dan McFarland joins Glasgow Warriors

GLASGOW Warriors confirmed yesterday that Connacht assistant Dan McFarland will be joining them in the summer to take up the post of forwards coach.

The Scotsman revealed last month that the former prop had agreed to move from Galway to Scotstoun after being identified by Glasgow as the leading candidate to replace the departing Shade Munro.

The former Ireland Wolfhounds coach and Ireland Under-20s No 2 will join Gregor Townsend’s backroom team alongside Matt Taylor and Kenny Murray.

McFarland played over 100 games for Connacht between 2000 and 2006, and also turned out for Richmond and Stade Francais. He has been in charge of the Connacht pack since 2006 and during his time at Galway Sportsground has been a member of a coaching set-up that has helped the smallest of the Irish provinces steadily improve into a competitive outfit. They are now consistent challengers for the top six of the Guinness Pro12 and regularly punch above their weight. Last season they produced one of the biggest  European Cup shocks of recent seasons when they beat Toulouse in France.

McFarland said: “Connacht has been such a large part of my life for such a long time, but I’m excited about this next stage of my career. Glasgow regularly finish in the top four in the Pro12 and have made huge progress over the last few seasons, reaching their first major final last year.

“I’m looking forward to moving to Glasgow with my family at the end of the season and working with the players and coaches over the summer, to prepare for the new campaign.”

Warriors head coach Gregor Townsend said: “Dan has done a fantastic job at Connacht over the last nine years and is a high quality technical coach.

“He has an excellent reputation and we believe that he will play a key role in helping to develop a number of our younger players.”