Quartet shortlisted for McCrea Financial Services Warrior of the Month for December

• 9 Jan 2024

Four standout performers from the month of December are in the running to be named McCrea Financial Services Warrior of the Month, as Glasgow Warriors finished the calendar year well placed to challenge on all fronts.

Defeats at the hands of Munster in the BKT United Rugby Championship and Northampton Saints in the Investec Champions Cup were followed by a memorable 12-11 victory away to Aviron Bayonnais, as Franco Smith’s men earned a famous win in the Basque country.

A 22-10 home victory over Edinburgh then gave Glasgow an unassailable lead in the 1872 Cup, a 19-14 reverse at Scottish Gass Murrayfield not enough to prevent the Warriors from retaining the trophy once more.

Supporters have until 5pm on Friday 12 January to vote for their favourite over on the club’s official Twitter channel.

The nominees are:

Zander Fagerson

Tight-head Fagerson is nominated for the second successive month, after continuing to impress at the coal-face in both domestic and European competition.

The Scotland star featured in all five of Glasgow’s fixtures across December, coming off the bench away to Munster before starting each of the following four matches.

He currently holds a 97% tackle success rate in the BKT URC, his work rate in both attack and defence consistently highlighted by supporters and pundits alike.

Ally Miller

Former Scotland 7s standout Miller is nominated for the club’s monthly award for the first time in his Glasgow Warriors career, having enjoyed a breakout month for Smith’s squad.

The back-rower turned in a performance for the ages in the win away to Aviron Bayonnais, capping an all-action display with an unforgettable try and Investec Player of the Match honours at the Stade Jean Dauger.

Miller was at it again just a week later, running in his second try in as many weeks to cap off the victory over Edinburgh in front of the East Stand faithful.

George Horne

Scotland scrum-half Horne picked up from where he left off upon his return from injury in December, the Howe of Fife product offering a threat around the breakdown in both the BKT URC and Investec Champions Cup.

His big-game experience was to the fore during the victory in Bayonne, playing the full 80 minutes and earning the match-winning turnover in the shadow of his own posts.

Horne was then flawless from the tee in the home win over Edinburgh, taking his tally of points for the season to 33 – more than any other Warrior bar Johnny Matthews.

Josh McKay

McKay joins Fagerson in having featured in all five of Glasgow’s fixtures across December, playing a key role in keeping his side competing at the sharp end of both competitions.

The full-back made more carries (22) and more metres (150) than any other player in round one of the Investec Champions Cup, before producing a spectacular finish to score the crucial try away to Bayonne in round two.

McKay then showed his all-round skillset to dominant effect in the opening leg of the 1872 Cup at Scotstoun, defying the wintry conditions to earn the BKT Player of the Match award in the 22-10 victory.

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