GLASGOW Warriors will hold their annual awards dinner at the city’s Radisson Blu hotel on 11 May - and this time former captain Al Kellock will be handing out an award rather than receiving one.

Kellock, whose final game before retiring was the Warriors’ PRO12 final triumph last year, won the leadership award in 2015, when the event was sponsored for the first time by the Malcolm Group. He will have a say in who gets the honour this year. Other awards include player and young player of the season - won by Niko Matawalu and Adam Ashe respectively last year.

“Last year was the first season we had a leadership award, and to be honest I didn’t know anything about it,” said Kellock, who now works for Scottish Rugby as an ambassador and mentor. “This time round I’ll have a hand in discussing who’s going to win it.

“Leadership is such a big part of rugby - not just on the park, but off it as well. This year it’s great to see guys like Jonny Gray, Rob Harley and Peter Horne coming through. They’re outstanding examples of leadership. The night itself is a celebration of the season.”

The event, which is again sponsored by the Malcolm Group, is open to all supporters, sponsors, partners and business club members. Tickets are priced at £80 plus VAT per person or £800 plus VAT for a table of ten. More information is available by phoning Jim Taylor on 0141 435 4365, or by emailing him at jim.taylor@glasgowwarriors.org.

Kellock will write an exclusive preview for The Herald before each of Scotland’s RBS Six Nations Championship matches this season. His first column will appear on Saturday, the day of the Calcutta Cup match at Murrayfield.

Meanwhile, the Warriors have announced the signing of Jarrod Firth, a tighthead prop from New Zealand, on a two-and-a-half year contract. The 24-year-old has joined the PRO12 champions from Counties Manukau, where he has played for the past three seasons, although he also made two appearances for the Chiefs in Super Rugby last season.

As Firth has no Scottish bloodline, he would have to stay here beyond his current deal - which has been signed subject to his receiving a visa - before qualifying to represent the country on the three-year residency rule. He will compete for the No 3 jersey at the Warriors with Zander Fagerson, who should be named today in the Scotland squad for Saturday’s game against England, and Sila Puafisi, the Tongan international.

Born in Auckland, Firth, who has been here since the weekend, explained that the fact other New Zealanders had done well in Scotland had played a part in his decision to make the move north. “This is a great opportunity for me, and I'm delighted to sign a long-term contract with the Warriors,” he said yesterday. “Everyone I spoke to had great things to say about the club and the city, so I jumped at the chance to get over here.

“Glasgow have had a few Kiwis before and they've always done well, so there is no reason why I can't be successful too. I'm here now and ready to go and hopefully I can earn the chance to pull on the jersey.”