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Scotland midfielder Huw Jones has resisted interest from elsewhere to stay on at Glasgow, agreeing on a two-year contract extension just days after helping his country to their latest Calcutta Cup win over England.
The centre, who was involved in two of Duhan van der Merwe’s hat-trick scores, had been linked with a trip to France this week with Montpellier looking to bring him to the Top 14 for the 2024/25 season.
However, rather than head across the Channel, the former Stormers and Harlequins player has decided his future is best served by remaining with Glasgow through to the summer of 2026.
A statement on the Warriors website read: “Glasgow have made a statement of intent by retaining the services of one of the northern hemisphere’s most dangerous attackers in the face of significant competition after Huw Jones put pen to paper on a new two-year contract with the club.
“The 30-year-old joins fellow Scotland internationals Scott Cummings, Jamie Bhatti and Johnny Matthews – as well as young talents Gregor Hiddleston, Angus Fraser and Nathan McBeth – in extending his stay at Scotstoun, having developed into a world-class outside centre for both club and country.
Plenty more to come ?
Your favourite moment from Huw in Glasgow colours so far?#WhateverItTakes ???? pic.twitter.com/Y4p1F7qmd5
— Glasgow Warriors (@GlasgowWarriors) February 28, 2024
“Having initially joined the club in 2017, Jones’s form since returning to Scotstoun in the summer of 2022 has been nothing short of sensational, playing a vital role in the club’s run to the 2023 EPCR Challenge Cup final in Franco Smith’s first season as head coach.
“Scorer of 20 tries in his 67 appearances in Glasgow colours to date, the centre earned the club’s try of the season award in his first campaign back at Scotstoun courtesy of a spectacular length-of-the-field effort in the record-breaking 73-33 victory over the Dragons in April 2023.
“Jones has also formed highly successful partnerships with both Sione Tuipulotu and Stafford McDowall at club level, dove-tailing to devastating effect with both players in the Glasgow midfield.
“The centre has also become a fixture in the midfield on the highest stage, becoming Scotland’s first-choice outside-centre since returning to the Warriors last summer. With 46 caps to date, Jones was also to the fore in Saturday’s history-making Calcutta Cup success at Scottish Gas Murrayfield.
“His most recent appearance in Glasgow colours saw Jones showcase the full range of his abilities, running in a brace of tries and assisting one of Kyle Rowe’s finishes in an Investec player of the match-winning performance against Toulon at Scotstoun.”
Jones said: “When it came down to it, it was a really easy decision to be honest. We have got a really good thing going here in Glasgow, and we fully believe that we are on our way to becoming one of the top teams in Europe.
“We are going strongly in the league and in the knockout stages in the Champions Cup, and we have got a playing group that is constantly improving. That’s an environment that I really want to be a part of going forward.
“Off the field, too, I’m incredibly settled in Glasgow. We have got a baby on the way in the next five weeks, which is hugely exciting, and we have great connections to our families across the UK. We have got a superb support network around us and that is such an important thing for us as a family, so it was a no-brainer to be staying.
? “It was a pretty easy decision in the end from both a rugby and family perspective”
Hear from Shug as he looks ahead following his new deal ?#WhateverItTakes ???? pic.twitter.com/myvnaktgpy
— Glasgow Warriors (@GlasgowWarriors) February 28, 2024
“I love all of the boys here and I love working with the coaching group. Since Franco came in, he has helped to drive standards and improve us across the board, and he has helped to create a brilliant culture at this club. Nigel (Carolan), Pete (Murchie) and Al (Dickinson) are all excellent coaches too, and I have got no desire to move and leave that behind.
“I really enjoy being here and coming in to work every day. I believe we can win silverware and it’s up to us as a squad to make that happen. It’s a really exciting time to be a Glasgow Warrior.”
Head coach Smith added: “Good people make good players, and Huw represents that. He believes in what we’re building here at Scotstoun and knows the value of being part of a strong squad. We are looking forward to continuing to work with him over the next couple of seasons.”
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