Franco Smith Refuses to Open Door on More Deals as Glasgow Land Bayley Kuenzle

Head coach Franco Smith has refused to be drawn on further transfer business despite confirming that Bayley Kuenzle was among the players targeted by Glasgow Warriors, which has now been confirmed by Glasgow Warriors as their latest signing. 

The Warriors returned from a bruising South African tour licking their wounds after heavy defeats to the Lions and Stormers, conceding over 100 points across the two fixtures. 

While the results exposed defensive vulnerabilities, Smith was quick to shut down talk of lingering damage.

“The South African tour has passed, it is what it is,” Smith told SportsBoom.co.za in an exclusive interaction. 

“It’s better to close that door.”

Despite the disappointment, Glasgow remain firmly in contention in the United Rugby Championship, sitting second on the table, just one point behind the Stormers. 

Smith insists the squad’s strong body of work across the season should not be overshadowed by a difficult fortnight on the road.

“We’ve led key metrics, carrying metres, defence, tackle completion, points difference. The foundation is there,” he noted. 

“Now it’s about recovery and refocus.”

More new faces to follow Kuenzle

Attention has also turned to recruitment, with Smith hinting that Kuenzle may not be the only addition to his roster. However, he remained deliberately vague when pressed for details.

“Kuenzle is one of the players we looked at. There are one or two others,” he said with a smile. 

“If you can pronounce their surnames, I’ll tell you.”

His reluctance to elaborate suggests negotiations may still be ongoing, with Glasgow potentially seeking reinforcements ahead of the knockout stages.

The Warriors now face a crucial stretch, beginning with a home clash against Cardiff Rugby before travelling to take on Ulster Rugby. With the playoffs looming, Smith expects a marked shift in mindset.

“The changing room is hurting, and that’s not a bad thing,” he said. 

“We’ll have a different mental approach next week.”

For Glasgow, the equation is simple: respond now, or risk letting a promising campaign unravel at the decisive moment.