‘World-class’ Scotland star signs Glasgow Warriors contract extension ahead of 1872 Cup clash

Glasgow Warriors have announced that they have retained the services of Scotland international front-row Zander Fagerson ahead of Sunday’s 1872 Cup opener at Hampden Park after he put pen to paper on a new multi-year contract.

Fagerson – who made his 150th appearance for the defending United Rugby Championship champions in their 2024/25 season opener against Ulster – follows the lead of fellow Warriors and Scotland stars Sione Tuipulotu, Kyle Steyn and Stafford McDowall in pledging his future to the club.

The 28-year-old made his Glasgow Warriors debut in an away victory against Benetton in 2014 and has developed into one of the leading players in his position in the global game.

Fagerson soon established himself in the Warriors side and was part of their squad which suffered a narrow defeat to Leinster in the 2014 PRO14 final at Celtic Park, before playing a crucial role in their triumphant 2023/24 URC campaign in which they beat the Bulls in a thrilling final at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.

Fine form rewarded with Scotland debut in 2016

His outstanding form at club level was rewarded with a his international debut for Scotland against England during the 2016 Six Nations campaign, becoming the fourth youngest prop to represent his country at the age of 20.

He represented Scotland at both the 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cups, amassing 70 caps to date and – alongside brother Matt – becoming the 48th set of siblings to represent their country at Test level.

Fagerson’s outstanding form for both club and country was rewarded when he was included in the British and Irish Lions squad for their tour of South Africa, and he featured in four matches for the famous touring side.

Speaking at Hampden Park ahead of this weekend’s 1872 Cup opener, Fagerson said: “Weighing up all the options, it was clear very quickly that Glasgow was definitely the standout choice for both for myself and my family.

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“I love being part of this group and coming to work with my mates every day. We’re all trying to drive each other forward and make each other better on and off the field. That’s definitely the mantra of this squad, and this is the best place for me to continue my rugby journey.

‘Being part of that environment is really exciting’

“We’re a family-driven club, so making sure my wife and my kids were happy was huge for me. They feel just as much a part of this club as I do, so to be sticking around and being part of that environment is really exciting and an opportunity for which I’m truly grateful.

“Once you get that winning feeling, you just want to experience more of it. To have that experience last year with the playoff run and winning the league down in Pretoria alongside some of my best mates and my little brother – it was a dream come true.

“That in turn has really driven how we train this year – we want to go out and win that trophy once more, and be the best version of ourselves both in the league and in Europe. That mindset is only going to serve us well as we move forward and I’m excited to be a part of it.”

Glasgow Warriors head coach Franco Smith is delighted that Fagerson has extended his stay at the Scotstoun-based outfit.

“Zander is a world-class operator in the front-row, and we are extremely pleased to retain a player of his calibre for the coming seasons,” he said.

“He is one of the top tight-heads in world rugby, with his quality at the set-piece and dynamism with ball in hand clear for everyone to see.

“Moreover, he is a true family man and a person who embodies what it means to be a Warrior, and we look forward to continuing to work closely with him as we progress on the Glasgow Warriors journey.”

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