Darge voted McCrea Financial Services Player of the Season for 2021/22

Rory Darge has capped off a landmark personal campaign by being voted as the McCrea Financial Services Player of the Season, one of a hat-trick of trophies claimed by the flanker at the 2021/22 Glasgow Warriors Awards Dinner, sponsored by The Malcolm Group.

The 22-year-old edged out fellow back-rower Jack Dempsey to take home the award at the end of his first full season in Glasgow colours, with over 2,000 votes cast by the Warrior Nation to determine the victor.

A sensational season has seen Darge become a fixture in the back-row for both club and country, leading the Warriors in turnovers across the 2021/22 campaign with 15.

His footwork and link play with ball in hand have also made observers across the United Rugby Championship sit up and take notice, with Darge adding four Player of the Match awards to his two McCrea Financial Services Warrior of the Month prizes this season.

The openside was presented with the prize at the Hilton Glasgow this evening, as the club celebrated it’s first in-person awards event since 2019.

Darge’s momentous night also saw him walk away with the Denholm Energy Services Players’ Player of the Season trophy, topping a poll of his peers at the end of the 2021/22 regular season.

The North Berwick product’s all-action style has seen him endear himself to the Warrior Nation across the campaign, making 16 appearances for the club prior to an injury sustained against the Vodacom Bulls.

His hat-trick of awards was completed by the Harper Macleod Test Player of the Season prize, in recognition of Darge’s outstanding debut campaign in a Scotland shirt.

A first senior cap off the bench in Cardiff was followed by one of the most memorable first starts in recent Scottish rugby history, the flanker shining despite defeat to France at BT Murrayfield.

Another man to have enjoyed a breakout season in Glasgow colours was honoured with the Mackenzie Construction Most Improved Player of the Season award, with Johnny Matthews taking home the trophy from the Hilton Glasgow.

In addition to making great strides forward with his work at the set-piece, the hooker’s tally of nine tries equalled the club record for most tries in a single season by a forward, whilst his hat-trick against Zebre Parma at Scotstoun wrote his name into the club history books.

Ollie Smith’s impressive form in the second half of the campaign saw the full-back named as the Land Rover Young Player of the Season, in a season where the club’s young talent came to the fore.

A quickfire brace on his European debut for the club against La Rochelle in January rocketed Smith into the spotlight, with only Jack Dempsey having made more metres in the URC for Glasgow than the former Ayrshire Bull.

The Malcolm Group Leadership Award was presented to Richie Gray, with the coaching team recognising the 2013 British and Irish Lion’s presence both on the field and around the club.

The second-rower, who agreed a new contract with the Warriors during the 2021/22 season, leads the URC in lineout steals and has also been involved with the club’s charity work off the field across the past twelve months.

In his final season after a 12-year career with the Warriors, Rob Harley was named as the recipient of the 2021/22 The Famous Grouse Coaches Award.

No-one has made more appearances for the club than Harley’s tally of 266, with the former West of Scotland man having been involved in some of the club’s most historic moments in the professional era.

Cammy Little of Moffat RFC was named as the SP Energy Networks Community Hero for 2021/22, in recognition of the major impact he has made with the club over the course of the season.

In addition to the role of Head Coach, Little has been at the heart of community events including a Santa’s Grotto and Halloween Drive, as well as engaging players and fans young and old across Moffat and the surrounding region.

Josh McKay’s scintillating score against Edinburgh at Scotstoun saw the full-back pick up the Try of the Season, presented by University of Strathclyde award, finishing off a clinical counter-attack in a 30-17 victory.

? Your 2021/22 Try of the Season, presented by @UniStrathclyde, goes to Josh McKay for his effort against Edinburgh!

He’s happy to give Seba a share of the limelight, though ?#WhateverItTakes ⚔️? pic.twitter.com/iJOzR437uf
— Glasgow Warriors (@GlasgowWarriors) May 24, 2022

2021/22 Glasgow Warriors Awards Winners

McCrea Financial Services Player of the Season: Rory Darge
Denholm Energy Services Players’ Player of the Season: Rory Darge
Land Rover Young Player of the Season: Ollie Smith
Mackenzie Construction Most Improved Player of the Season: Johnny Matthews
Harper Macleod Test Player of the Season: Rory Darge
The Famous Grouse Coaches Award: Rob Harley
The Malcolm Group Leadership Award: Richie Gray
SP Energy Networks Community Hero: Cammy Little, Moffat RFC
Try of the Season, presented by the University of Strathclyde: Josh McKay v Edinburgh (H)