Ryan Grant (rugby union)

Ryan Grant (born 8 October 1985) is a rugby union coach, the co-owner of a gin business and a former Scotland international rugby union player. He became the head coach of Glasgow Academicals in 2020.

Ryan Grant
Birth nameRyan Grant
Date of birth (1985-10-08) 8 October 1985 (age 38)
Place of birthKirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight113 kg (17 st 11 lb)
SchoolAlice Smith School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Loosehead Prop
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2005
2016-17
2017-18
Army
Currie
Ayr
()
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2005–2007
2007–2010
2010–2017
2017
2017
2017-2019
Border Reivers
Edinburgh Rugby
Glasgow Warriors
Worcester Warriors
Edinburgh Rugby
Glasgow Warriors
6
14
109

0
3
(0)
(0)
(40)

0
0
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2006
2007
2012–
2013
Scotland U21
Scotland A
Scotland
British & Irish Lions
10
3
25
(0)
(0)
(0)
Correct as of 27 September 2015
Coaching career
Years Team
2019-20
2020-
Glasgow Academicals (Asst.)
Glasgow Academicals

Grant was educated at the Alice Smith School in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He was an Area System Operator with the Royal Corps of Signals of the British Army from 2002 to 2005.[1]

Rugby Union career edit

Amateur edit

Grant played rugby for the Army before making the grade at professional level.

In 2016, Grant turned out for Currie in the Scottish Premiership.[2]

In the 2017–18 season, he played with Ayr.[3]

Professional edit

Weighing 249 pounds (113 kg) for 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) he played prop for the provincial side Glasgow Warriors from 2010, becoming Glasgow Warrior No. 186. He previously played for the Scottish professional sides Border Reivers and Edinburgh Rugby making him one of a few players to have played for three of Scotland's professional teams. He was named in the Pro12 Dream Team at the end of the 2012/13 season.

On 25 January 2017, it was announced that Grant had joined Worcester Warriors with immediate effect.[4]

At the start of the 2017–18 season, Grant was back in Scotland, this time with Edinburgh Rugby again. He trained with Edinburgh and played in their August match against Newcastle Falcons at The Greenyards.[5] Grant was not there long, and joined Edinburgh's 1872 Cup rivals instead. On 28 September 2017, he joined Glasgow Warriors again on a short-term deal.[6]

International career edit

Grant made his Scotland debut in the first test of the 2012 summer tour, starting against Australia at the Hunter Stadium in New South Wales.[7] He continued to start in the further two wins over Fiji and Samoa.

On 7 June 2013, Grant was called up for the British & Irish Lions to cover for the injured Gethin Jenkins.[8]

Coaching career edit

It was announced on 8 May 2019 that Grant would be a coach for Glasgow Academicals for the 2019–20 season.[9] When the head coach Andy Jackson stood down in 2020, Grant was promoted to head coach of the club.[10]

Business career edit

Grant co-owns his own organic gin production company, The Garden Shed Drinks Company, which he runs with his fellow ex-Glasgow Warrior, Ruaridh Jackson.[11]

References edit

  1. ^ "Ryan Grant". LinkedIn.
  2. ^ "Warriors in BT Premiership action". Glasgow Warriors. 2 December 2016. Archived from the original on 2 September 2017. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  3. ^ "We're delighted that @ryangrant85 has signed a deal with @GlasgowWarriors after a few good run-outs in the #pinkandblack shirt this season!pic.twitter.com/VOhopXJHC1". Twitter. Ayr RFC. 28 September 2017.
  4. ^ Parsons, Tom (25 January 2017). "Warriors sign Scotland prop Ryan Grant". Worcester Warriors Rugby Club. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017.
  5. ^ McPartlin, Patrick (28 September 2017). "Ryan Grant rejoins Glasgow Warriors on short-term deal". The Scotsman.
  6. ^ "Warriors sign Grant and Beattie". Glasgow Warriors. 27 September 2017. Archived from the original on 29 September 2017.
  7. ^ Mason, Jim (6 June 2012). "Ryan Grant urges Scotland to continue tour momentum". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 9 June 2012.
  8. ^ Hamilton, Tom (7 June 2013). "Cian Healy ruled out of tour with ankle injury". ESPN.
  9. ^ "Coaching role for Ruaridh Jackson". Glasgow Warriors. 8 May 2019.
  10. ^ "1st XV". Glasgow Academicals RFC.
  11. ^ "The Gin Maker: Ruaridh Jackson". The Rugby Players Association.

External links edit