Glasgow Warriors’ preparation for Saturday night’s URC play-off quarter-final clash against Munster at Scotstoun received a timely boost yesterday with news that Sebastian Cancelliere had put pen to paper on a contract extension which will keep the 29-year-old at the club until at least the summer of 2025.
The Argentinean winger has been one of Warriors’ stand-out performers this season – despite missing two-and-a-half months from mid-February with a knee injury – with his contribution recognised by his team-mates a fortnight ago when he was named players’ player of the year.
Cancelliere – who was also named McCrea’s Financial Services Warrior of the Month last October and in January – has scored nine tries in 14 appearances across all competitions this season, including a sensational double in the team’s statement win over the DHL Stormers in January.
He ranked in the URC’s top 10 for defenders beaten, clean breaks and metres made during the regular season, with his form earning selection to a recent Argentina training camp meaning that he is very much in the frame to feature for the Pumas at this Autumn’s World Cup.
“I’m extremely happy to be staying at Scotstoun,” said Cancelliere, who initially joined Warriors from Jaguares in the summer of 2021, and who made a triumphant return from his injury lay-off as part of the Warriors team which got the better of Scarlets in Llanelli last Saturday night to reach the Challenge Cup final.
Played at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on the evening of May 19, it will be Warriors’ first European final appearance.
“We’ve got an incredibly talented group of players here, and I feel like we’re really building something as a group,” Cancelliere added.
“I love the way we play rugby and I feel so comfortable in the systems and set-up we play here. It’s the way I love to play and this season has been so much fun to be involved with.
“Glasgow is also a fantastic city to live and work – some people might have concerns about the weather, but those sort of things don’t matter when you love being here. My wife and I are really settled here and I’m enjoying every part of it.
“We have a massive home game this Saturday and the supporters showed how much they care about the club down at the Scarlets last weekend – we love to see them getting involved and enjoying it, because we couldn’t do it without them. I love representing this club and the Warrior Nation.”
Head coach Franco Smith praised Cancelliere’s attitude as well as his ability.
“We’re pleased to be able to secure Sebastian’s services for the next couple of seasons – he is a model professional and someone with whom we love to work as a coaching group,” said the South African.
“His drive and determination to be the best version of himself as a player is seen by the work he puts in on the training field, and his performances this season have been excellent.
“He has fully bought in to what we are looking to build here and we look forward to continuing to work with him.”
Cancelliere follows Jack Dempsey, Jamie Dobie, George Horne, Stafford McDowall, Richie Gray, Tom Jordan, Alex Samuel and Sione Tuipulotu in re-committing to the club in recent months for at least one more season.
Smith will name his team to take on Munster tomorrow lunchtime, with Cancelliere expected to retain the No.14 jersey, although it would be out of character for the coach not to tinker with his line-up to some degree as he strives to keep his squad fit and hungry in their battle for silverware on two fronts.
If Warriors win on Saturday night they face an away semi-final against the winners of the Leinster versus Sale Sharks quarter-final the following weekend.
Cancelliere earned the first of his 11 Argentina caps in 2017, coming off the bench in a November international against England at Twickenham. He is one of a sizable Puma cohort at the club alongside props Enrique Pieretto and Lucio Sordoni, stand-off Domingo Miotti and fellow back-three man Facundo Cordero (although he is only on a short-term deal to the end of the season).
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