Weir takes coaching role in academy shake-up at Glasgow

Glasgow Warriors stalwart Duncan Weir is to "step back" from playing to take an academy coaching role at the club.

Nick Ryan, who joins after five years as director of rugby at Sydney University, has been appointed Glasgow's academy manager.

Former Scotland fly-half Weir, 34, won the Pro12 title with Warriors in 2012 and has made more than 150 appearances for the club across two spells.

Weir and Ryan are joined by Shade Munro, who continues in his academy role having previously been head coach of Scotland women and Glasgow assistant.

Weir is "really excited" for his new role, telling the Warriors website: "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."

Ryan, whose experience includes a three-year stint as pathways manager at Melbourne Rebels, 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."