Kebble admits Rennie factor

Glasgow Warriors prop Oli Kebble is excited to have the chance to work with new head coach Dave Rennie, after arriving in the city just over a week ago.

The 25-year-old, who signed a two-year contract with the Scotstoun side, admitted it was the prospect of working with the Super Rugby-winning coach that was the clinching factor in his move north, having joined from South African side Stormers.

Speaking to Warriors TV, he said: “I’ve been looking forward to it for a long time. It was announced while I was still playing for the Stormers and obviously I wanted to finish well there, but I’m excited to finally be here.

“I’d been speaking to Glasgow for a while, but what really sealed it for me was the coaching staff they put together.

"Having played against Dave for the past couple of years in Super Rugby, he’s been one of the standout coaches, and the package of him plus his assistants here [Jason O’Halloran, Kenny Murray, Jonathan Humphreys and Mike Blair] was what motivated me to come.”

Kebble’s Super Rugby commitments meant his arrival in Glasgow was delayed, with his Stormers outfit eventually knocked out by Rennie’s Chiefs side in the quarter-finals.

“Losing to Dave – well, he’s got one up on me here!” laughed Kebble.

“It was disappointing that, for the third year in a row, we failed to progress past the quarter-finals, but I think I left on the best possible not I could have.”

With extensive experience of South African rugby, the man from Durban is possibly the most qualified member of the Warriors squad to talk about the integration of the Cheetahs and Southern Kings into the new PRO14. Kebble believes that, whilst posing some unique challenges, the introduction of the new sides will only benefit the competition.

He said: “It’ll be quite interesting to see northern and southern hemisphere teams clash for the first time outside of international rugby, and it’ll be interesting to see what teams make of going to Bloemfontein where it’s hot and dry at altitude.

“It can only strengthen the competition though, to have two teams of that calibre coming in.”

Despite his South African roots, however, Kebble is no stranger to the northern hemisphere, having spent time in both England and France when he was younger.

“I did my A-Levels at Dulwich College near London, so I know all about the weather!” smiled Kebble.

“I decided to come up for a couple of years and then head back to South Africa.

“I was really young when I went to France [Kebble spent time at Mont-de-Marsan when he was 18]. I was barely out of school, so I probably didn’t take it as seriously as I would now. It was a great experience for me as a person though, living on my own for the first time and learning a bit of French.

“Learning the ‘dark arts’ of the scrum also definitely helped me when I went back to South Africa.”

The prop will have some familiar faces around Scotstoun, with former Stormers team-mates Huw Jones and Brandon Thomson also having signed with the Warriors over the summer. Kebble has also been impressed with his fellow front-rowers, however.

He said: “I’ve been watching Zander [Fagerson] playing for Scotland in the Six Nations and he’s been very impressive. He’s going to be a great player. The boys here have a lot of potential and it’s going to be a great season.

“Huw and I didn’t actually know we were both talking to Glasgow at the same time! He’s a good mate and it’s a bonus he’s coming here too.

“Brandon’s a great guy. I think he really did well when he came here on loan last year. He’s a great signing and I get on really well with him.”

With the new PRO14 season now less than a fortnight away, the prospect of running out at Scotstoun is one that excites Kebble, as he hopes to impress the Warrior Nation.

“I like to be known as a hard worker and make an impact – get my hands on the ball, make the big hits and be a dominant scrummager” said Kebble.

“I’m really looking forward to the crowd at Scotstoun. I just want to do well, and make my mark for the team.”