Scotland's Richie Gray has a new club after quitting Glasgow Warriors

The move, which was mutually agreed upon by both Gray and the club, marks the end of his long and distinguished association with Glasgow Warriors, spanning 15 years over two separate spells.

The 35-year-old lock has represented Scotland 79 times and was part of the British and Irish Lions squad that toured Australia in 2013. At Toyota Verblitz, Gray will work under the guidance of former All Blacks head coaches Steve Hansen and Ian Foster.

Toyota Verblitz finished seventh in the 12-team Japan Rugby League One last season, and Gray is eager to contribute to their success.

"It's a pleasure to be here," Gray said in a statement released by the club. "I'm excited to meet everyone, give my best effort, and contribute to building a successful Verblitz team."

Gray first emerged as a key figure for Glasgow during the 2008/09 season, swiftly becoming one of the northern hemisphere’s leading second-rowers. His performances earned him a place in the 2010/11 PRO12 Dream Team before he left the club in 2012 for new challenges.

Following his departure, Gray spent time at Sale Sharks and then moved to France, where he enjoyed a successful spell with Castres and Toulouse, the latter of which saw him crowned a TOP14 champion. His return to Glasgow in 2020 added invaluable experience to a Warriors squad in transition.

Gray’s stature on the international stage is well-established. He was selected for the 2013 British and Irish Lions tour to Australia, and in May 2023, he marked his 100th appearance for Glasgow, leading the team out in a special moment at Scotstoun against Munster.

Gray made his Scotland debut in the 2010 Six Nations and has since reached 50 caps, notably playing in the 2015 Rugby World Cup, one of three World Cups in which he has represented his nation. In a fitting finale to his Glasgow chapter, Gray played a pivotal role in the club’s 21-16 triumph over the Vodacom Bulls earlier this year, lifting the BKT URC trophy—nine years after his brother Jonny had claimed the PRO12 title with the Warriors.

There can be no underestimating the importance of recruitment to Gallagher Premiership bosses with England’s top clubs spending more money than ever before.

We’ve decided to look at five of the worst Premiership signings from down the years...

What a corker to start off with. The Wallabies legend and World Cup winner joined the club on a three-year contract back in 2007. However, what started off as an exciting signing turned into an expensive mistake for the Cherry & Whites, who have got next to nothing out of the hooker who will have cost them a lot of money. He played only one Premiership game for Glaws in his one season at Kingsholm, departing by mutual consent in July, 2008.

Falcons announced in May 2004 that the Brumbies loose forward had signed on a two-year deal, believed to be worth £150,000 per season.

However, the recently-capped Wallaby got cold feet and pulled out of the move claiming he’d only ever signed a letter of intent. Rob Andrew was adamant at the time that agreement to join the Falcons was binding.

Signed for the club 11th Jan 2011 but was registered under his Aussie passport and therefore cost the club 2 points and £5000 for fielding too many overseas players.

He was then convicted of drink driving, banned from the road for 18 months, and released by the club in May 2011. He failed to score a single try in his four appearances for the Chiefs. His career has done nothing but rise ever since so that’s nice.

The Fijian wide-man joined the newly promoted Exiles in 2017, fresh off scoring 22 tries in 32 games during a productive two year spell with Lyon.

With the club spending big money, fans were hopeful that his deadly finishing would give them a chance of avoiding the drop. Instead, he looked unthreatening and slow, scoring just one try.

Trained with the Exiles for a few weeks before deciding it wasn’t for him and retired. The one-time Premiership record points-scorer then resurfaced at Newcastle in December 2015 where his experience and prolific boot saved them from relegation with London Irish going down. He even made it onto the Rugby Players’ Association Player of the Year shortlist.