Glasgow Warriors break silence on Jack Dempsey exit - 'can't wish up a £40m budget'

The Scotland No. 8 will move on from Scotstoun at the end of the season after agreeing what is understood to be a four-year deal with a Japanese League One club, believed to be Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo.

Scottish Rugby is said to have made a lucrative counter offer to try to keep hold of the former Australian international but Dempsey has still chosen to end his five-year stint in Glasgow for a new challenge in the Far East.

It is another blow for Warriors with Scotland pair Huw Jones and Adam Hastings both set to depart for France – to Toulon and Montpellier respectively – with the club confirming that prop Jamie Bhatti will return to Bath at the end of the season, too.

Grant conceded Dempsey’s departure is a tough one to swallow but was stoic about the financial reality of the situation.

He said: “Jack’s been brilliant this season so it’s a loss. He's played incredibly well. That [Champions Cup] game against Saracens is probably one of the best games I've ever seen from a Number 8.

“We're pleased for him. It's a big moment in his life in terms of career and change. We'd really like to have kept him for sure. But we’ll wish him all the best when the end of the season comes.

“These things happen and people will change and that's the reality. That's the market. So, you do what you can. I'm not too privy to all of [the contract negotiations]. But, again, I suppose you do what you can. If you can compete with other deals, then great. But if you can't, then what can you do? You make the best deal you can.

“From the coaching side, it's not the first time you're going to lose your top players. It's just the nature of the beast where we are. Compared to the French leagues or Japanese leagues, their budgets are astronomical. We can't wish up a £40 million budget a year as a Scottish team.”

Glasgow sit top of the United Rugby Championship and have a home tie in the last 16 of the Champions Cup. And Grant was confident those set to depart will want to do so on a high.

He added: “All the guys leaving, they're really good men. They really care and we really care about them. We celebrate everyone's victories, really.

“So, there’s absolutely no doubt that they'll be wanting to finish their Glasgow careers with silverware. Everyone wants to do that, whether you're staying or going. We're really focused on going as far as we can and hopefully winning things this year.”

Grant also gave an injury update on Scotland pair Scott Cummings and Gregor Brown who sat out the final Six Nations match away to Ireland.

“I don't know specific timelines. Obviously, they've only just finished up with Scotland at the weekend. But I think Scott's certainly positive in terms of we'll see him sooner rather than later. And Gregor, I don't think it's foreseeable [that he will return] for a couple of weeks. So, Scotty sooner rather than Gregor.”