The season began somewhat like an eruption for Glasgow Warriors when it was announced that this 2016-17 season was to be the last in Head Coach's Gregor Townsend tenure. Townsend was announced to be taking over the Scotland Head Coach role from Vern Cotter in the summer of 2017.

Barely had the ink dried on the newspaper reports of Townsend's departure, only two days later the SRU quickly named Townsend's successor. The man charged with taking over the Warriors for the 2017-18 season was to be a top New Zealand coach, Dave Rennie, the Head Coach of the Super Rugby side the Chiefs. The Chiefs had won the Super Rugby title twice under Rennie's guidance.

Jason O'Halloran and Jonathan Humphreys were later also announced to be joining the Warriors for the 2017-18 season.

In a move which hoped to forestall the problems of the 2015-16 season when Scotstoun became unplayable due to flooding, a new 4G pitch was unveiled at Scotstoun Stadium.

Since this was to be Head Coach Gregor Townsend's last season with the Warriors, a decent European run was a key target. The Warriors had never before qualified for the quarter finals of the European Champions Cup and this was the coach's last attempt to break that hoodoo.

The Pro12 began in season 2011-12. And - in every single year since - Glasgow Warriors had made the play-offs to contest the championship in its last weeks. This was another target in this season. A high placing in the Pro12 would also ensure European Champions Cup placing for the 2017-18 season.

The 1872 Cup was held by Edinburgh Rugby for the last two seasons, despite Glasgow finishing above Edinburgh in the Pro12 league in every year of Townsend's reign. Glasgow wanted the cup back west.

A mixed season saw the team qualify for European Champions Cup Quarter Final for the first time but lose out to eventual champions Saracens.

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Wikipedia