GLASGOW WARRIORS
Head CoachFranco Smith
Franco Smith is the head coach of Glasgow Warriors, the former Springbok who won the URC in 2024 and has extended his contract to 2028.
Tenure record
as of 6 Jun 2026By competition
United Rugby Championship 20P · 14W · 0D · 6L
Champions Cup 6P · 5W · 0D · 1L
Franco Smith has overseen 26 completed Glasgow Warriors matches in our database since September 2025 — 19 won, 0 drawn, 7 lost. That is a 73.1% win rate, with 692 points scored and 490 conceded.
Records are computed from the WeTalkRugby match database and cover matches we hold data for within this tenure. They are not an official all-time record.
Coaching career
- 2019-2022 Italy Head Coach
- 2022- Glasgow Warriors Head Coach
Honours
- 2024 United Rugby Championship (Glasgow Warriors)
- 2019 Currie Cup (Free State Cheetahs)
- 2016 Currie Cup (Free State Cheetahs)
- 2015 Varsity Cup (UFS Shimlas)
- 2010 Coppa Italia (Benetton Treviso)
- 2010 Campionato di Eccellenza (Benetton Treviso)
- 2009 Campionato di Eccellenza (Benetton Treviso)
Players under Franco Smith
Full squad →
About Franco Smith
Franco Smith is the head coach of Glasgow Warriors, in post since August 2022 and contracted to 2028 after extending in 2025 amid speculation linking him to the England job.
Born in Lichtenburg in July 1972, he was a fly-half and centre for Free State, Griquas, the Blue Bulls, Newport, the Pumas and Benetton Treviso. He won nine Springbok caps and scored a try on debut against Scotland at Murrayfield.
Italy, the Cheetahs and Italy again
Smith coached Treviso from 2007 to 2013, winning two Italian championships and a Coppa Italia, then returned to South Africa and led the Free State Cheetahs to Currie Cup titles in 2016 and 2019. He was Italy’s head coach from 2019 to 2021 and afterwards the Italian federation’s head of high performance — a period that seeded much of Italy’s current playing group.
Glasgow
He delivered the club’s first title since 2015 by winning the 2023–24 URC, beating the Bulls 21–16 in Pretoria — a result made more remarkable by the venue. Glasgow then topped the 2025–26 regular season, the first non-Irish side to do so since Glasgow themselves in 2019, before losing a home semi-final to the Bulls.
Style
His Glasgow play at high tempo with ball in hand and defend with aggressive line speed. He has also been the most consistent developer of young Scottish talent in the professional era.
Frequently asked
Who is the head coach of Glasgow Warriors?
Franco Smith is the head coach of Glasgow Warriors.
When did Franco Smith take charge?
Franco Smith took over at Glasgow Warriors in August 2022, around 4 years ago.
What is Franco Smith's record?
From 26 matches in our database: 19 wins, 0 draws and 7 defeats — a 73.1% win rate.
What nationality is Franco Smith?
Franco Smith is South African.
How old is Franco Smith?
Franco Smith is 54 years old.
What has Franco Smith won?
Honours include: United Rugby Championship (Glasgow Warriors) (2024), Currie Cup (Free State Cheetahs) (2019), Currie Cup (Free State Cheetahs) (2016), Varsity Cup (UFS Shimlas) (2015), Coppa Italia (Benetton Treviso) (2010).
