Brown and Wilson named as co-captains

Glasgow Warriors Head Coach Danny Wilson has announced that Fraser Brown and Ryan Wilson will co-captain the club for the remainder of 2019/20 and the 2020/21 campaign.

It will be a
third successive season as co-captain for Wilson, with the Scotland back-rower
having also served as the club’s captain on a solo basis in 2017/18.

The
31-year-old made his Glasgow debut against Leinster in 2010 and has gone on to
make 168 appearances for the club to date, a total which sees him sit fifth in
the all-time charts.

Since
returning from the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, he has been involved in every
matchday 23 for the Warriors in both the Guinness PRO14 and Heineken Champions
Cup, with his versatility across the back-row making him a valuable asset to
the squad.

He was a key
member of the only Scottish side to lift silverware in the professional era,
starting the 2015 Guinness PRO12 Final at openside flanker.

In addition
to earning 49 caps for his country at senior level, Wilson also holds the
distinction of being the only player to captain Scotland A to victory over
England Saxons on English soil, leading the men in blue to a 13-9 win in
Newcastle back in 2013.

Brown
assumes co-captaincy duties for the first time in his Glasgow Warriors career, with
the 31-year-old having become a key member of the club’s leadership group in
recent seasons.

The hooker
currently sits on 98 appearances in a Glasgow jersey, having made his debut for
the club against Zebre back in 2013.

Also capable
of operating in the back-row, Brown has become a fixture in the matchday squad
for both club and country in recent seasons.

He was a
lynchpin of the Warriors squad that reached the Guinness PRO14 Final at Celtic
Park in 2019, a run that included captaining the side for the 34-10 victory
over Edinburgh at Scotstoun in April 2019.

Brown made
his 50^th appearance for Scotland in this year’s Guinness Six
Nations, becoming only the fourth hooker to reach the milestone when he took to
the field against France at BT Murrayfield.

“I’ve learnt
a lot over the past few years both on and off the field while being captain,”
Wilson told glasgowwarriors.org

“Callum
Gibbins taught me so much in the way he approached rugby and life off of it
while I was co-captain with him and I’m looking forward to working with Fraser
for the coming season.

“We have a
great group of men and some incredible leaders in amongst them which always
makes my job easier.

“I’m excited
for the new challenges this season will bring and excited to experience and
learn more as Glasgow Warriors co-captain.”

Brown added:
“It’s something that I’m very honoured to be asked to do.

“Glasgow
helped me build my career, and it’s a club I love.

“Not a lot
changes for me as captain, to be honest. Your relationships on the pitch
changes a little bit in terms of talking to the officials, but especially here
you’re part of a group of seven or eight guys all looking to help you lead the
team.

“We’ve got a
chance over the next season or two to build and continue to challenge for
silverware. We came so close at Celtic Park last year, and we want to be back
up there again.”

Glasgow
Warriors Head Coach Danny Wilson hailed the leadership qualities of the pair, saying:
“Both Ryan and Fraser are passionate Warriors and hugely influential to the
club both on and off the pitch.

“I have seen
first-hand both with Scotland and in my time with the Warriors how well
respected both of these men are and their leadership qualities. Their
leadership styles certainly complement each other well.

“With a high
number of international fixtures proposed during the 2020/21 season our
co-captains and senior leadership group will be required to step up more often
and I am confident Ryan and Fraser are the men best placed to lead the team
going forward.

“I’m looking
forward to working with both Fraser and Ryan over the next season and to
continue to build on Glasgow Warriors success.”