by Glasgow Warriors head coach Franco Smith has addressed reports this week that Scotland center Sione Tuipulotu is being targeted by at least two Gallagher Premiership sides for a move south.
Rugby Pass announced on Thursday that Tuipulotu had been the subject of inquiries from Premiership duo Bath and Harlequins as well as several French clubs.
Australian-born 26-year-old Tuipulotu has been an outstanding success since arriving at Scotstoun three years ago. He won 27 caps for Scotland and played a crucial role in helping the Warriors win the URC title last season.
With his contract expiring at the end of the season, Smith said he hoped the respect Tuipulotu is held in Glasgow could lead to him continuing to play rugby for his club in Scotland beyond the current season.
“I think it depends on how much Sione wants to remain a Warrior,” the head coach said. “He obviously showed that in the way he played. We love him as a player here and I think he is happy here. I hope that’s the most important thing.
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“I think if he stays here with us he will show how much he cares. But I don’t want to go into that too much, especially when we’re on tour and not in Scotland.
“Yes, they (other clubs) can make contact and probably more than one of our players have been contacted. The value of Glasgow Warriors players has increased, we understand that. But right now I think the focus should be on what we want to achieve here.”
Glasgow have yet to win a regular season URC game in South Africa since the Bulls, Sharks, Stormers and Lions joined in 2021 and have lost all six games in the last three seasons.
But having beaten the Bulls in a memorable final triumph in Pretoria in May and sitting second in the pre-season table after wins in their last three games, Smith’s new-found side are lacking confidence for the game against Kings Park lack.
The Sharks recalled all of their frontline Springboks, including Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi and front-row trio Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi and Vincent Koch, at the first opportunity after returning from winning the recent Rugby Championship.
For around half of the players on both teams, this will be a foretaste of Scotland’s clash with South Africa at Murrayfield in three weeks’ time, on November 10.
“We wouldn’t have it any other way,” added Smith, who has left players such as center Huw Jones and Japan-bound lock Richie Gray out of his 23-man roster to keep some players fresh for next Saturday’s game against the Stormers. “We are excited about the fact that we get the chance to compete against the best of them.
“I think they (Sharks) want to get these guys together before the tryouts in November. But it’s also the way we’ve gone about our business this season that may have forced them to bring everyone back and not just some of them. So from that perspective, a certain amount of respect is definitely or certainly being shown.
“They will get a lot of people through the gates so it will be a nice challenge like we had in the final. It will be a final atmosphere, a test-like environment. So I’m really looking forward to it and looking forward to our guys running here in front of this crowd.”
