Scotland international prop Zander Fagerson hails player development at Highland Rugby Club as Glasgow Warriors prepare to travel north to Inverness for first pre-season friendly against Worcester Warriors at Caledonian Stadium
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Scotland international prop Zander Fagerson has paid tribute to Highland Rugby Club's development of players ahead of Glasgow Warriors' pre-season friendly next week.
Glasgow will take on Worcester Warriors at the Caledonian Stadium next Friday in what is believed to be the first ever professional rugby match to take place in the Highland capital since 2000, when the Caledonian Reds hosted Edinburgh.
It will also be the start of a new era for the Scotstoun club, who appointed Franco Smith as their new head coach in the summer – with the first chance to see his side take to the field coming in Inverness.
Although it has not been possible in recent years because of the pandemic, Glasgow have gone on the road before for pre-season matches, with a game in Perth in 2018 the last time they were able to leave their home ground.
That has only served to add to the excitement among the Warriors though, with Fagerson looking forward to running out in the Highlands.
"It's my first time at Caley Thistle, I love it," he said on a visit to the stadium this week.
"It's awesome with a really great pitch in immaculate condition – so no excuses for next Friday.
"It's a Glasgow and Caley region, so we try to spread the game. There is some great talent coming through from the outer regions.
"I'm a Caley boy and had I not had that exposure to Glasgow, I wouldn't be where I am today. We need to keep driving that message in places such as schools.
"There is some exceptional talent in these regions maybe not getting recognised, so we need to spread the net far and wide and get the best crop.
"I'm sure some of our fans will also make the journey up to Inverness and it's awesome. I hope we can do it going forward, every year."
Glasgow Warriors play Worcester Warriors at the Caledonian Stadium on Friday, September 2 – get tickets here.
Credit to Highland RFC
Fagerson has played alongside Highlanders like Paddy Kelly, a good friend, and Jamie Dobie for Glasgow Warriors.
They are examples of the talent that exists outside of rugby's traditional hotbeds, and plenty of work has gone in at Highland's Canal Park to ensure that more youngsters will follow in the footsteps of Kelly and Dobie.
The Glasgow prop is well aware of the ability that exists in areas like Inverness and the Highlands, and he knows what it is like to make it in the game from different areas having grown up in Dundee.
With next Friday's game coming as part of Highland's centenary celebrations, then, Fagerson made sure to credit the work being done at grassroots level at Canal Park.
"I am not fully up to scratch on all the academy systems right now, but I had to travel far as well when I was younger," he explained.
"It is a massive sacrifice from the parents and players, good on them. The regional coaches are there to help get the right players in the right positions, to help them express their talents.
"We just need to cast the net far and wide and have these regional days to make sure there is the exposure for the players to show what they can do, so they can be picked up.
"Highland have always had a very strong minis team and all the way through for years on end and that has been working, so they just need to continue what they've been doing.
"Highland perhaps don't get enough recognition for some the players they bring through. I have good friends from up here, like Paddy, so hopefully the match is a great night and Highland get recognised for all the work they do."
New beginnings at Scotstoun
For Warriors fans heading along to the match against Worcester, there will be a sense of intrigue at seeing Smith's side run out for the first time.
Fagerson missed the first part of pre-season due to international commitments with Scotland – including a 50th cap – but he is looking to get off to a winning start under the new regime to build momentum ahead of the 2022/23 season.
"We addressed a few things at the end of last season which we weren't good at and we fell short at, but honesty and key work are two of our strengths and key roots at Glasgow," Fagerson insisted.
"We want to go back to those roots and what we're all about. We want to make the place proud. We had a proper review from the ground up and addressed a few things and had a few hard conversations and we're going to be better for it. The only way now is to look forward.
"It is about getting back to what we're all about. We questioned ourselves at the end of last season, but we know what we're all about now and we're looking forward to showing that with what we put on the pitch.
"The boys have been working and training really hard. We have high standards on and off the pitch and if we carry it through the season it can be a good season, but it doesn't matter what we talk about in pre-season, it comes down to results.
"It's a new challenge with a new coach and everyone is buying into that, so we're really excited to get started. Next Friday is the start of it and we'll take that on to the season. There are good vibes around the place."
