SEVERAL new recruits should be on their way to Scotstoun over the summer - thanks to the compensation Glasgow Warriors will get for releasing Leone Nakarawa to French giants Racing 92.

The Warriors confirmed yesterday that Fijian forward Nakarawa will be leaving at the end of this season despite having a year left on his contract. They also announced the departures of a number of other players, including Kevin Bryce, who is on his way to Edinburgh where he will switch from hooker to tighthead prop.

A statement from Glasgow said only that Nakarawa was leaving for France and did not name his new club, but that was purely because Racing prefer to announce their new signings all at once at the end of the season. The Champions Cup finalists have been in talks with the 28-year-old’s agent for several months, and though the deal was only completed recently, there was always little doubt that he would leave the Warriors.

“These types of opportunities only come around once and I couldn’t turn it down,” Nakarawa said on www.glasgowwarriors.org. “I’ll miss all of the players, but I’ll still keep in touch with them as I get on with them all so well.

“This is a new challenge which I’m looking forward to, but that is next season and my focus just now is trying to retain the Guinness PRO12 trophy and end my time at the club on a high. Glasgow Warriors have helped me a lot with the coaches and backroom staff improving my game and making me stronger. I'd also like to thank the Glasgow supporters for making me feel so welcome.”

Nakarawa signed for Glasgow in 2013, then agreed a new deal at the end of 2014. He was a key player in the club’s PRO12 win last season, and was also one of the stars of the Rugby World Cup.

“Leone has attracted a lot of interest from other clubs due to the form he’s been in over the last year,” Warriors head coach Gregor Townsend said. “During the Rugby World Cup a lot of clubs were interested in signing him and although we were looking to retain him, we have now agreed to let Leone leave a year early. The deal has allowed us to strengthen our squad for next season.”

Bryce, whose brother Glenn announced earlier this season that he is leaving Glasgow for Edinburgh, has signed a two-year contract with his new team. He went to the World Cup as a hooker, but decided after that tournament that his future lay in a switch to tighthead. “The more I thought about and discussed it, the more I thought it would be the right move,” he said.

“It's not massively different, just a matter of making a number of technical adjustments. My dad made the move from flanker to loosehead during his playing days, so it's not so unusual to make some sort of change.”

As well as Bryce, Scotland cap Tyrone Holmes, Fijian international Jerry Yanuyanutawa, Georgian international Shalva Mamukashvili, Will Bordill, Fergus Scott, Gregor Hunter, Jason Hill and Javan Sebastian will all leave Scotstoun at the end of the season.

The Warriors have previously confirmed the departures of Duncan Weir, Taqele Naiyaravoro and Mike Cusack as well as Glenn Bryce. Mike Blair and James Eddie have also retired.