SINCE Dave Rennie was the man who pioneered the idea of co-captains back in the days when he was in charge of the Chiefs in New Zealand, it was always likely that he might copy his own successful formula as Glasgow head coach.

Which is exactly how it has panned out. Ryan Wilson, last year's captain, and Callum Gibbins, the flanker Rennie brought in from his homeland, have been asked to share the job this season. Both men seem delighted at the invitation.

The idea has become increasingly common since Rennie came up with it but this is still an unusual way of doing things. Usually, the co-captains have responsibilities in different areas of the team – as when Jonny Gray, the lock, and Henry Pyrgos, the scrum-half, led Glasgow a couple of seasons ago – but this time the job has been handed to two back row colleagues.

"Ryan [Wilson] was captain last year but actually leant on Callum [Gibbins] a lot," Rennie explained. "He is very experienced. Ryan brings really good emotion and really good connection with the young men; Cally is very analytical and solution focussed.

"They are a really good blend. We have 53 guys in our squad, which is a hell of a lot for one person to deal with so we have a leadership group that will assume the role. The fact that Gibbins is available all year, and Ryan potentially won't be, makes it work pretty well for us."

As Rennie hinted, one area where they do differ is in international commitments. Wilson is among Gregor Townsend's top choices for the Scotland side and is a core part of the planning for the next World Cup; Gibbins has no Scottish ancestry and, after arriving in Scotland only a year ago, has plenty of time before the question of his availability on the basis of residency becomes an issue – since he turns 30 in a few weeks, it may never crop up.

Fortunately the pair get on famously well – Wilson was happy to joke about rooming with Gibbins when they travel for away games so often than his wife was starting to get worried – and they both see it as a natural partnership since they bounce ideas off each other anyway.

"To be honest, we’ve not spoken a lot about it," Wilson admitted. "We had our first leaders’ meeting only on Thursday night because we wanted to focus on the season, looking at our skills and letting the boys get on with their pre-season, before we got into things like culture.

"Cal is one of those guys who gives it his all when he’s out on the pitch. In fitness testing, everything, he pushes the limits and he leads by example. That’s what you get from him. He’s a grafter and the boys will follow him.

"It is good having Callum here. That is why Renns [Dave Rennie] brought him over, I think. Not just for his playing abilities but for his leadership.

"Dave is always talking about family and culture on and off the field. Cal [Gibbins] is always one of those guys, he is single at the moment so is always around to go for a coffee with, which is handy.

"He is a typical Kiwi. Plays the guitar, likes a good yarn. To have him in the leadership group is great. He has played Super Rugby and he brings qualities from there as well."

For Gibbins, who admitted he had been slightly embarrassed at his instant promotion to the leadership group when he arrived at the club and was then asked to captain the side in Wilson's absence within a few weeks, the dynamics are unlikely to chance much.

"When you’re on the field captaining a side you very rarely make a decision by yourself anyway," he pointed out. "Very often, if I’m captain I’ll talk to the other leaders. Whoever goes to the ref to say we want to take a shot or whatever is irrelevant.

"I don’t see it changing much from last year. When Ryan is playing at home he will be the captain, he’ll run out and when he’s away I’ll take over. That’s the way I see it going.

"When I first arrived at the club he was one of the first guys to make me feel welcome. He’s a team man and the boys love him. He’s got the backing of the team, 100 percent. When I first played with him I thought he was a guy I wanted to follow. When I see someone like that, I see a leader."

The pair should dovetail well and the reality is that with so many players to pick from plus Wilson's Scotland duties to factor in, the pair may not actually find themselves on the field for many Guinness PRO14 games, leaving them in partnership only for the big European matches.