McKay voted as McCrea Financial Services Player of the Season by Warrior Nation

Josh McKay has been voted as the 2023/24 McCrea Financial Services Player of the Season, taking home the trophy for the first time after a stellar campaign at full-back for Franco Smith’s squad.

The 26-year-old emerged victorious from a hotly-contested supporters’ poll, the Warrior Nation choosing McKay as their winner after an historic season for the man from Kaiapoi.

No full-back has ever scored more tries in a season for Glasgow Warriors than McKay’s tally of seven to date, having featured in 19 of the club’s 23 matches in 2023/24.

McKay also leads his team in metres gained (966), defenders beaten (45), offloads (20) and carries (169) in the league this season, sitting in the top five across the BKT URC in each category.

He also wrote his own piece of Glasgow Warriors history back in February, his try after 30 seconds against the Dragons in Origin Round the fastest score ever recorded in the club’s professional history.

Stafford McDowall claimed the Denholm Energy Services Players’ Player of the Season prize, after narrowly edging out McKay in a poll of Franco Smith’s playing squad.

The Stewartry RFC product started in all bar one of the club’s BKT URC fixtures during the regular season, regularly captaining the squad from either midfield position and leading by example while helping his team secure a home quarter-final.

The first-ever awards for the club’s inaugural women’s squad were also handed out, with Holland Bogan taking home the Coaches’ Player of the Season prize after bursting onto the scene in the 2023/24 Celtic Challenge.

A former participant in the SP Energy Networks Warriors Championship, the outgoing back-rower made more tackles than any other Warrior across the competition, as well as providing a dynamic presence with ball in hand.

Loose-head prop Ailie Tucker was voted as the squad’s Player’s Player of the Season, in memory of Siobhan Cattigan, her peers recognising her outstanding contribution at the coal face.

The club’s top try-scorer in their inaugural season, Tucker played more minutes than all bar one forward in Glasgow colours, her ball-carrying, work ethic and defence all highlighted across the campaign.

Elsewhere, Tom Jordan collected The Famous Grouse Coaches Award, having featured in every Glasgow Warriors matchday 23 across all competitions in the 2023/24 campaign.

Comfortable at fly-half and at centre, the former Ayrshire Bull was recognised for both his performances on the field and his efforts to help drive standards across the campaign.

The Malcolm Group Leadership Award was presented to McDowall, the centre having served as vice-captain with distinction across 2023/24.

A key leader on the field, the newly-capped Scotland midfielder has also shown his leadership qualities off the field, helping to drive the club’s community and charity initiatives throughout the season.

Zander Fagerson took home the Harper Macleod Test Player of the Season trophy, the 2021 British and Irish Lion having once again proven an indispensable member of Scotland’s starting XV.

The tight-head started in each of Scotland’s fixtures in the 2024 Guinness Six Nations, an 80-minute shift against France and a try away to Italy adding to three appearances at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in the dark blue jersey.

Euan Ferrie was named as Mackenzie Construction Most Improved Player of the Season, the East Kilbride man highlighted for his development in his second full season as a professional.

The flanker – equally adept in the second-row – crossed for his first professional try away to the Emirates Lions, with his determination and work ethic to improve in training highlighted by the coaches in their decision-making process.

Ferrie’s former Scotland U20 colleague, Max Williamson, was also celebrated on the night, the second-rower taking home the Defender Breakthrough Player of the Season prize.

Since making his professional debut in the home victory over Benetton last November, Williamson has become a near ever-present in the matchday 23, featuring on 17 occasions across all competitions and scoring his first try in Glasgow colours against Cardiff in March.

Colin Dalgarno of Strathaven RFC was honoured as the 2023/24 SP Energy Networks Community Hero of the Year, in memory of Jim Taylor MBE, having been chosen from each of the 2023/24 Community Spotlight winners.

Dalgarno’s fundraising efforts and dedication to improving the facilities available to the local community was highlighted alongside his work to help the club move towards carbon net-zero.

The University of Strathclyde Try of the Season trophy went to Duncan Weir, the fly-half’s effort against the Vodacom Bulls receiving the majority of the public vote.

A full list of award winners can be found below:

McCrea Financial Services Player of the Season: Josh McKay
Denholm Energy Services Players’ Player of the Season: Stafford McDowall
Women’s Coaches’ Player of the Season: Holland Bogan
Women’s Players’ Player of the Season, in memory of Siobhan Cattigan: Ailie Tucker
The Famous Grouse Coaches Award: Tom Jordan
The Malcolm Group Leadership Award: Stafford McDowall
Defender Breakthrough Player of the Season: Max Williamson
Mackenzie Construction Most Improved Player of the Season: Euan Ferrie
Harper Macleod Test Player of the Season: Zander Fagerson
SP Energy Networks Community Hero of the Year, in memory of Jim Taylor MBE: Colin Dalgarno, Strathaven RFC
University of Strathclyde Try of the Season: Duncan Weir v Vodacom Bulls