Glasgow Warriors 'land' former Scotland captain in statement signing

The 29-year-old, who left Edinburgh last year for French Top 14 side Perpignan, will become the third signing by the Scotstoun outfit ahead of the 2026/27 campaign. He joins Australian utility back Bayley Kuenzle and South African back rower Ruwald van der Merwe as additions to Franco Smith’s side.

Ritchie, who was captain of the Scotland men’s national team from 2022 to 2023, will provide more experience to Warriors’ back row options with international teammate Jack Dempsey leaving the club. Glasgow are also losing Huw Jones, Adam Hastings, Jonny Matthews and Jamie Bhatti at the end of the current season.

Scotland flanker returning to URC after season in France

It marks the first major statement signing by Warriors with the Fifer having played over 100 games for Edinburgh and over 60 times for Scotland. It will likely be a sore on for the capital club to see their former player signing for their rivals but Sean Everitt’s side have already been significantly active in the transfer market themselves.

They have confirmed the arrivals of centre Riley Higgins and scrum half Louie Chapman, both of whom are Scotland qualified, from Super Rugby franchises Hurricanes and Crusaders respectively. Prop Alec Hepburn will also be moving to the Hive from URC rivals Scarlets along with along with winger Geordie Gwynn from Ealing Trailfinders and fly-half James Grayson from Japan Rugby League One side Mitsubishi Dynaboars.

Ritchie will return to his homeland on the back of one season in France with USA Perpignan, who have not had the best campaign and currently sit second bottom of the standings. The Scotland flanker has also seen his game time limited since picking up a knee injury in the Six Nations win over England at Murrayfield in February.

The 63-times capped flanker made his Scotland debut in a Summer Test match against Canada back in 2018. He has been a regular in Gregor Townsend’s squads when fit and available since then and has continued to be amongst the regular starters despite strong competition for places in the national team’s back row.

Glasgow Warriors back row options looking strong for next season

He was named Scotland captain ahead of the 2022 Autumn Nations Test Series and carried the armband through the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France. He was so highly thought of earlier in his career that in 2021 he signed a record breaking contract with Edinburgh and was named co-captain of the capital club alongside Grant Gilchrist in 2022.

He has scored three tries for his country with the most recent coming in the 31-20 Calcutta Cup victory over England where he picked up the injury that ruled him out for the remainder of the 2026 Six Nations. Scotland were dominating the early stages of the match when Ritchie got on the end of a huge looping pass by Sione Tuipulotu to cross over in the corner for his side’s second of the afternoon.

His move to Glasgow could also prove beneficial for the national team as he links up with fellow back rowers Matt Fagerson and Rory Darge. That trio could well prove to be a regular starting combination from six to eight for both club and country going forward.