The 2013–14 season saw Glasgow Warriors compete in the competitions: the RaboDirect Pro12 and the European Champions Cup, the Heineken Cup.

Season Overview

Glasgow Warriors hoped that this year they would improve on last season's defeat in the semi-final play-off when they finished 3rd in the Pro12 league.

Al Kellock was named as captain again for the eighth season in a row.

A row over the future of the Heineken Cup overshadowed the start of the season. In fact, this was to be the last year of the Heineken Cup in its present format and it was replaced by the European Rugby Champions Cup.

Team

Coaches Head coach: Gregor Townsend Assistant coach: Shade Munro Assistant coach: Matt Taylor Assistant coach: Kenny Murray

Squad Hookers Fraser Brown Kevin Bryce Finlay Gillies Dougie Hall Pat MacArthur

Props

Geoff Cross Michael Cusack Ryan Grant Ed Kalman Moray Low Denford Mutamangira Gordon Reid Jon Welsh Jerry Yanuyanutawa

Locks Jonny Gray Alastair Kellock Leone Nakarawa Tom Ryder Tim Swinson Loose forwards Adam Ashe James Eddie Chris Fusaro Rob Harley Tyrone Holmes Callum Reid Josh Strauss Ryan Wilson

Half backs Chris Cusiter Peter Jericevich Nikola Matawalu Henry Pyrgos

Stand offs Ruaridh Jackson Duncan Weir Scott Wight Centres Mark Bennett Folau Niua Alex Dunbar Robbie Fergusson Peter Horne Richie Vernon Back Three Gabriel Ascárate Carlin Isles Lee Jones Sean Lamont Sean Maitland D. T. H. van der Merwe Tommy Seymour Stuart Hogg Peter Murchie

Academy players

Fergus Scott - Hooker George Hunter - Prop D'Arcy Rae - Prop Andy Redmayne - Lock Will Bordill - Flanker

Ali Price - Scrum-half Gavin Lowe - Fly-half Finn Russell - Fly-half Jack Steele - Centre Rory Hughes - Wing

Player statistics During the 2013–14 season, Glasgow have used forty six different players in competitive games. The table below shows the number of appearances and points scored by each player.

Position Nation Name Pro12 Champions Cup TotalApps(sub)TriesPointskickedApps(sub)TriesPointskickedApps(sub)Total ptsHKFraser Brown0(10)000000(10)0HKKevin Bryce0(2)000000(2)0HKDougie Hall10(9)103(3)0013(12)5HKPat MacArthur14(5)003(3)0017(8)0PRGeoff Cross2(3)100002(3)5PRMike Cusack10000010PRRyan Grant9(3)2061015(3)15PREd Kalman7(2)002(4)009(6)0PRMoray Low3(10)002(2)005(12)0PRGordon Reid13(6)2000013(6)10PRJon Welsh11(9)002(2)0013(11)0PRJerry Yanuyanutawa2(12)100(2)002(14)5LKJonny Gray15(3)101(1)1016(4)10LKAlastair Kellock10(1)1040014(1)5LKLeone Nakarawa5(12)002(2)107(14)5LKTom Ryder5(3)002(1)007(4)0LKTim Swinson13(2)1041017(2)10BRAdam Ashe0(1)000000(1)0BRJames Eddie3(8)201(2)004(10)10BRChris Fusaro14(4)104(1)1018(5)10BRRob Harley21(3)2040025(3)10BRTyrone Holmes9(6)002(2)1011(8)5BRJosh Strauss17(3)104(1)0021(4)5BRRyan Wilson4(3)102(2)006(5)5SHChris Cusiter14(3)100(3)0014(6)5SHNikola Matawalu12(6)705(1)1017(7)40SHHenry Pyrgos9(4)21230012(4)22FHRuaridh Jackson10(10)1225(1)02115(11)48FHFinn Russell11(3)010100011(3)101FHDuncan Weir8(1)0761(5)0129(6)88FHScott Wight2(2)060002(2)6CEMark Bennett15(3)41210016(3)32CEAlex Dunbar1110500165CEPeter Horne4(2)000004(2)0CEFolau Niua0(1)000000(1)0CEJack Steele0(1)000000(1)0CERichie Vernon9(8)200(3)009(11)10WGRory Hughes20000020WGLee Jones3(3)100003(3)5WGSean Lamont7(2)002109(2)5WGSean Maitland10(3)3062016(3)25WGD. T. H. van der Merwe6(1)202(2)208(3)20WGTommy Seymour14(1)6030017(1)30FBGabriel Ascárate2(2)002004(2)0FBStuart Hogg73114051131FBPeter Murchie10(1)2000010(1)10

Staff movements

Coaches

Personnel in

Kenny Murray from Ayr RFC

Personnel out

None

Player movements

Academy promotions

Johnny Gray

Player transfers

In

Kevin Bryce from Heriot's Rugby Club Geoff Cross from Edinburgh Rugby(loan) Carlin Isles from Detroit Lions (NFL) Gabriel Ascárate from US Carcassonne Folau Niua from USA 7s Leone Nakarawa from Fiji Barbarians Tyrone Holmes from Petrarca Rugby Denford Mutamangira from Ayr RFC Peter Jericevich from Edinburgh Academicals Callum Reid from Edinburgh Academicals Robbie Fergusson from Ayr RFC

Out

Graeme Morrison retired John Barclay to Scarlets Gabriel Ascárate released Geoff Cross to Edinburgh Rugby(loan ends) Nick Campbell to Jersey Bruce Dick to Edinburgh Rugby Fraser Thomson to Melrose RFC Murray McConnell to Ayr RFC Denford Mutamangira to Ayr RFC Callum Templeton to Ayr RFC James Johnstone to Scotland 7s Peter Jericevich to Edinburgh Academicals Callum Reid to Edinburgh Academicals Robbie Fergusson to Ayr RFC

Competitions

Pre-season and friendlies

Match 1

Aberdeen GSFP: M Crawley; E Oag, H Duthie, W Wardlaw, C Gordon; M Ryan, M Ward; S Corsar, S Bingham, M Erksine, E Nimmons, S Smith, R Cessford, G Ryan (capt), T Preece. Subs (all played): R Coates, M Cox, A Wallace, C Harvey, S Warnock, G Clow, S Ryan, G Walker, A Rennie, L Earle-Wright, P Nacamavatu, S Knudson.

Glasgow Warriors: R Ferguson; B McGuigan, M Bennett, F Russell, D. T. H. van der Merwe; S Wight (capt), A Price; G Reid, K Bryce, J Welsh, A Redmayne, J Gray, R Harley, T Holmes, A Ashe. Subs (all played): F Gillies, D Rae, D Mutamangira, E Kalman, T Ryder, J Eddie, W Bordill, R Vernon, P Jericevich, R Hughes, G Ascarate, J Steele, G Lowe.

Match 2

Harlequins: M Brown, T Williams, G Lowe, J Turner-Hall, U Monye, N Evans, D Care; J Marler, J Gray, W Collier, G Merrick, G Robson, T Guest, C Robshaw, N Easter. Replacements (all used): R Buchanan, M Lambert, P Doran-Jones, S Twomey, L Wallace, K Dickson, B Botica, M Hopper, Maurie Fa'asavalu, D Ward, T Casson, P Sackey.

Glasgow Warriors: P Murchie, T Seymour, M Bennett, G Ascarate, B McGuigan, S Wight, A Price; G Reid, P McArthur, E Kalman, J Gray, T Ryder, J Eddie, C Fusaro, R Vernon. Replacements (all used): K Bryce, J Welsh, M Low, T Swinson, W Bordill, T Holmes, H Pyrgos, F Russell, R Hughes, S Lamont.

Match 3

Chiefs: L Arscott (T James 39); F Vainikolo (M Jess 56), P Dollman, J Shoemark (S Hill 73), I Whitten; G Steenson, H Thomas (W Chudley 49); B Sturgess (B Moon 62), J Yeandle (C Whitehead 62), C Rimmer (A Brown 74), D Mumm, D Welch (T Hayes 66), B White (J Phillips 73), T Johnson (J Scaysbrook 53), D Ewers (B Moon 11–21). Replacements (not used): H Slade, W Carrick-Smith, K Horstmann, D Lewis, C Sweeney

Glasgow Warriors: P Murchie; T Seymour (G Ascarate 64), S Lamont (C Cusiter 53), A Dunbar, B McGuigan; S Wight (F Russell 62), H Pyrgos (M Bennett 62); M Low (J Yanuyanutawa 30; G Reid 62), F Brown (P MacArthur 30; F Gillies 62), J Welsh (E Kalman H/T), T Swinson, J Gray (L Nakawa 62), R Harley (J Eddie 62), T Holmes (C Fusaro H/T), R Vernon

Pro12

Glasgow Warriors had a great start to the season winning their first five matches leaving them top of the league. However the results over the winter period were inconsistent and it wasn't until the spring that the side really got going again. Matches postponed over the winter period against Edinburgh and Treviso really helped give a late charge to the line. Glasgow's victory over Edinburgh in the 1872 decider won the 1872 Cup for the fifth year in a row and they found themselves second in the league. By the end of the league season, the Warriors had comfortably secured second spot. In fact, despite the inconsistent winter period the Glasgow side finished with more wins than first-placed Leinster, with only the Irish side's knack of securing bonus points giving them a slender lead.

This was the last season that a top finish secured a home semi-final and possible home final, so Leinster were favourites in the play-offs. They played 4th place Ulster in Dublin in their semi-final whilst Glasgow Warriors had a bruising match against 3rd place Munster at a packed Scotstoun. Perhaps crucially it was the Warriors first semi-final at home. It was the Glasgow side's 9th consecutive win in the season run-in.

Both Leinster and Glasgow Warriors won through, so Leinster secured their home final as expected. 5000 of the Warrior Nation made their way to Dublin to a very tight RDS Arena only to see Leinster take charge of the match in the second half and run out 34–12 winners.

League table

Results

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

Round 6

Round 7

Round 8

Round 9

Round 10

Round 11: 1872 Cup (1st Leg)

Round 12

Round 13

Round 14

Round 15

Round 16

Round 17

Round 18

Round 10 rescheduled match

This match – originally scheduled to be held during Round 10, on 20 December 2013 – was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

Round 19

Round 20

Round 12 rescheduled match: 1872 Cup (2nd Leg)

This match – originally scheduled to be held during Round 12, on 1 January 2014 – was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

Glasgow Warriors won the 1872 Cup with an aggregate score of 57 - 50.

Round 21

Round 22

Play-offs

Semi-finals

Final

Europe

Despite initial confidence over a decent European run Glasgow Warriors had a mixed European campaign in 2013–14. The first match against Toulon seemed to sum up the Warriors' European experience over the season; good in parts but not consistent enough to win out.

Unfortunately for the Warriors, aside from the opening two games in October, the European matches fell in a winter period when they suffered most from inconsistencies. Losing both matches against Cardiff Blues - a side that finished 7th in the Pro12 that year - really put paid to any hopes and the last match at home to Toulon which could have otherwise ended in a group decider fizzled out with another Toulon victory. Only wins against the Exeter Chiefs gave any solace and the Warriors finished bottom of their group.

Results

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

Round 6

Table

TeamPWDLPFPADiffTFTATBLBPts Toulon 6 5 0 1 170 104 +66 15 10 3 1 24 Cardiff Blues 6 3 0 3 119 148 −29 10 14 1 1 14 Exeter Chiefs 6 2 0 4 118 123 −5 11 14 1 3 12 Glasgow Warriors 6 2 0 4 98 130 −32 12 10 1 2 11

End of Season awards

AwardWinner Young Player of the Season Finn Russell Coaches Award James Eddie Test Player of the Season Alex Dunbar Most Improved Player of the Season Gordon Reid Club Ambassador of the Season Peter Murchie Try of the Season Tommy Seymour vs. Treviso Players' Player of the Season Jonny Gray Player of the Season Rob Harley

Competitive debuts this season

A player's nationality shown is taken from the nationality at the highest honour for the national side obtained; or if never capped internationally their place of birth. Senior caps take precedence over junior caps or place of birth; junior caps take precedence over place of birth. A player's nationality at debut may be different from the nationality shown. Combination sides like the British and Irish Lions or Pacific Islanders are not national sides, or nationalities.

Players in BOLD font have been capped by their senior international XV side as nationality shown.

Players in Italic font have capped either by their international 7s side; or by the international XV 'A' side as nationality shown.

Players in normal font have not been capped at senior level.

A position in parentheses indicates that the player debuted as a substitute. A player may have made a prior debut for Glasgow Warriors in a non-competitive match, 'A' match or 7s match; these matches are not listed.

Tournaments where competitive debut made:

Scottish Inter-District Championship Welsh–Scottish LeagueWRU Challenge Cup Celtic LeagueCeltic Cup 1872 Cup Pro12 Pro14 Rainbow CupUnited Rugby ChampionshipEuropean Challenge CupHeineken Cup / European Champions Cup

Crosshatching indicates a jointly hosted match.