The Fraternity of 44

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - NOVEMBER 18: Glasgow Warriors George Horne during a BKT United Rugby Championship match between Glasgow Warriors and Benetton Rugby at Scotstoun Stadium, on November 18, 2023, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group)

DTH van der Merwe

DTH led the way to 44 tries, doing so in the very first game of his second spell with the club – against Zebre in March 2018.

97 appearances to hit 44 tries
3,094 days between debut and try number 44
6,172 minutes of game time to hit 44 tries
140 minutes per try

Among his first 44 scores, DTH’s favourite opponent was Connacht – he crossed against the Irish province on no fewer than seven occasions. He also bagged five against one of his other sides, Scarlets, as well as a further five versus Benetton.

The winger finished his time with the Warriors on 54 tries, which remains the club’s record. Across his entire career he scored more than 100 times for Canada, Glasgow, Scarlets, Newcastle Falcons and LA Giltinis.

Tommy Seymour

Tommy notched his 44^th try just over a year after DTH – and as was so often the case it came against his old club Ulster. On this occasion, it was the first of a double versus the Irish side as Glasgow put them to the sword in the 2018/19 PRO14 semi-final.

130 appearances to hit 44 tries
2,815 days between debut and try number 44
9,372 minutes of game time to hit 44 tries
213 minutes per try

Having joined from Ulster, it was only fitting that Tommy Seymour’s 44 should include six against them. He loved encounters with Benetton even more though – particularly the hedge in Treviso – notching a mighty 10 tries against the Italians.

Second only to DTH in Glasgow’s top try-scorer rankings, Tommy’s tally of 48 will be next to come under threat from George Horne – and possibly Johnny Matthews in the not too distant future.

Niko Matawalu

Niko’s 44^th and final try for the Warriors came in their last PRO14 match of 2020/21. Sadly, no fans were in attendance to celebrate magical Matawalu’s score against Benetton due to COVID-19 restrictions.

135 appearances to hit 44 tries
3,095 days between debut and try number 44
6,957 minutes of game time to hit 44 tries
158 minutes per try

Niko liked to spread the love with his scoring, going over against no fewer than 20 different teams during his time with the Warriors. Having made his Glasgow debut away to Cardiff, the flying Fijian seemed to particularly enjoy encounters with the side from the Welsh capital, scoring seven tries against them, including a double on the evening he became a Warrior Centurion.

The scrum-half’s place in the club’s try-scoring top three looks precarious with his old protégé Horne matching Matawalu’s mark and likely to have plenty more tries to come.

George Horne

George became the latest Warrior to make it to 44 tries when he sneaked over in front of the East Stand against the Sharks during the club’s current URC campaign.

112 appearances to hit 44 tries
2,703 days between debut and try number 44
5,364 minutes of game time to hit 44 tries
122 minutes per try

The younger Horne sibling overtook big brother Pete’s try total a long time ago – in just his second full season as a pro – and has remained prolific ever since. Adding in the Sharks, George has now, like Niko, crossed against 20 different opponents, including six against both Leinster and Zebre.

As he closes in on Tommy in second place and DTH’s 54 tries at the top of the tree, wee Dod’s predatory instincts will be to the fore. Can he get there before the try machine, Johnny Matthews, though?