SEAN KENNEDY has signed a one-year partnership contract with Glasgow Warriors and Super 6 side Stirling County, after being released by Edinburgh at the end of last season.
The 28-year-old scrum-half will provide Warriors with some invaluable depth and experience in a key position at the start of the 2019-20 campaign, when Ali Price and George Horne are likely to be away on World Cup duty with Scotland.
Kennedy has successful loan spell at Scotstoun earlier in his career, when he made seven appearances for the club during the 2012-13 season, earning a call-up to Scotland’s Six Nations training squad that season, and he will be hoping that this new deal has a similarly invigorating effect on a career which has stalled – partly through injury – these last two years at Edinburgh.
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As part of the deal, he will be available to play for Stirling County’s Super6 team when he’s not selected for the Warriors. He came through the ranks at Alloa and Stirling County before signing his first pro contract with the Scotland 7s squad in 2011.
“It’s been really good to get back involved with the boys,” said the player. “When I was here on loan before I didn’t play that much, but I really enjoyed myself. The style of play that Glasgow favour was a massive factor in my decision to come back – obviously different coaches will have different focuses, but I loved watching the free-flowing attacking play and I want to be a part of that. It’s always been a part of the game I enjoy, trying to get to breakdowns as quickly as possible and keeping that tempo high.
“I came through the ranks at Stirling County, from Under-18s right up until I signed full-time with Scotland 7s, so it’ll be great to get back there too.
“With Super6 on the way, I’m hoping we can do something special. I’m excited about it, especially the cross-border element of the competition. With boys being semi-pro now, the standard should be that bit higher, so it’s a great prospect.”
Glasgow Warriors assistant coach Kenny Murray believes Kennedy can make an instant impact. “Sean is an exciting player who really suits our style of play,” he said. “His speed around the pitch and the speed of his pass has the ability to really stretch defences.
“He is also very dangerous around the fringes and Glasgow fans saw glimpses of what he is capable of when he made a good impression here back in 2012.
“He’ll provide valuable depth in a position which we expect to be depleted in for large chunks of the season and will compete to be involved even when we are at full strength.”
Meanwhile, Stirling County head coach Ben Cairns believes the player ticks several key boxes which will make him an important member of the set-up next season.
“Since coming into my role as head coach of Stirling County we have had a recruitment policy of looking at home grown guys first,” he explained. “Sean is a local guy, who wants to play for County and whilst we hope he pushes for selection at Warriors on a weekly basis, we look forward to him pulling on the County Super6 jersey when he’s released to us by Glasgow.
“He will bring some valuable experience to our young side and it’s a signing which I am sure will excite our other recruits, the County faithful and the wider community.”
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Surely the boats sailed for Kennedy to make it as a pro .
I’d be miffed if I was super 6 player told a pro has parachuted into team
Mixed thoughts on this one.
On the plus side a good home produced player is retained in the game, and should get decent game time for a change.
On the negative side, is this a ploy to work around the S6 salary cap?
If so is this the first of the S6 club’s subsidising fringe pros? How will the S6 reserve 9 feel if he sees someone on £12k plus an SRU salary as he struggles on £3-4K?
We will find out soon if there is suddenly a raft of such “partnerships”
With you on that Keith.
What is the purpose of Super 6?
According to the SRU it’s
The Super 6 is a new and separate tournament within Scottish Rugby’s competition structure. It will be played by part-time professional players and will become the top tier of domestic rugby in Scotland, with the aim of increasing playing standards, by better-developing Scottish players, coaches and match officials to feed talent into the full-time professional game.
No detriment to Sean but how does this fit into the above???