Darge pens contract extension with Glasgow Warriors

Glasgow Warriors have moved to secure the services of one of the northern hemisphere’s premier openside flankers for the foreseeable future, after Rory Darge put pen to paper on a new deal with Franco Smith’s squad that will keep him at Scotstoun until at least the summer of 2028.

The 25-year-old – who was named as Scotland captain for the upcoming Skyscanner Pacific Tour earlier this week – has become one of European rugby’s most consistent operators since arriving at Scotstoun in 2021, establishing himself as a fixture in the back-row for both club and country.

Darge immediately burst onto the scene in Glasgow colours with a series of eye-catching performances in the Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup, maintaining his form throughout the 2021/22 season to earn a senior international debut for Scotland against Wales in the 2022 Guinness Six Nations.

His performances also earned him a hat-trick of accolades at the end of his first full season as a Glasgow Warrior, taking home the McCrea Financial Services Player of the Season, Denholm Energy Services Players’ Player of the Season, and Harper Macleod Test Player of the Season prizes at the club’s annual Awards Dinner.

The North Berwick RFC product has made 67 appearances for the Warriors to date, including playing an integral role in the club’s run to the 2023/24 BKT United Rugby Championship title.

Darge made 14 appearances across the title-winning campaign, including starting at openside in all three playoff matches to help his side lift the trophy at Loftus Versfeld last June.

His form in 2024/25 has continued to illustrate his qualities on both sides of the ball; Darge’s tally of 39 tackles in the club’s opening match of the season away to Ulster has only ever been bettered by Jonny Gray in Glasgow colours, whilst his work in attack saw him beat 10 defenders in last month’s clash with Benetton – tying the BKT URC record for a forward.

The back-rower’s efforts saw him voted into the BKT URC Elite XV for 2024/25, achieving the feat for the first time in his career after being recognised by a panel of pundits from broadcast, written and digital media.

Darge was an ever-present for Scotland at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France as he featured in all four of his nation’s matches, before serving as co-captain alongside Finn Russell for the 2024 Guinness Six Nations.

“It was fairly straightforward really,” Darge told glasgowwarriors.org following the announcement.

“I love my time in Glasgow and the club is the best place for me to be just now – I’m loving my rugby and this is the best possible place for me to keep developing.

“The competition at Scotstoun is something that’s definitely played a role in continuing to develop me, particularly this season with how well the young guys they came in and played. Everyone that came in took their opportunity really well, which is a testament to this environment and the coaching that we get, and that only bodes well for the future of this club.

“I’ve really started to enjoy the leadership role over the last season or so, both for Scotland and for Glasgow – I’ve enjoyed being able to support Steyno [Kyle Steyn] on and off the field, and it’s an exciting part of the game for me.

“There’s such a connection between the club and its community, too. We had a debrief earlier this week after the semi-final, and Franco [Smith] and Al [Kellock] were keen to stress the positives of everything we do, not only on the pitch but off it. Every single grassroots club visit and all the work this club does with charities like Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, it just helps to inspire our community and inspire the next generation of Glasgow Warriors. That’s such a massive driver for all of us and a really important part of why this club is so special.

“I’m really looking forward to the next few years – we’ve got a great playing group building here, as well as a really strong coaching group. I’m excited to see what Scott [Forrest] and Roddy [Grant] will bring – Scott’s been great since he came in last year, and I’m looking forward to working with Roddy, who was someone I grew up watching and looking to emulate. It’s an exciting time to be a Warrior and I’m looking forward to being a part of it.”

Head Coach Franco Smith added: “Rory has developed into one of the best in his position in Europe, and we still believe that he is only scratching the surface of his potential.

“His work in both attack and defence makes him an invaluable asset for both club and country; his statistics speak for themselves and only serve to underline his quality.

“He has developed into a leader within our environment over the last few seasons, and being named as Scotland captain is a well-deserved reflection of this development.

“He is someone who embodies what it means to be a Warrior, and we look forward to continuing to work with him over the coming seasons.”