Rory Darge to stay in Scotland on new deal

Glasgow Warriors have secured the long-term future of Rory Darge, who has signed a new deal that will keep him at Scotstoun until at least the summer of 2028.

The 6’1, 102kg Darge has won 30 caps for Scotland since his debut in 2022, captained the side twice on his own and 10 times as co-captain, leading them on a summer tour to NZ and Fiji.

The 25-year-old, recently named Scotland skipper for the upcoming Skyscanner Pacific Tour, has been a constant presence in both Glasgow and national team selections since his 2021 arrival.

Darge impressed in Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup and quickly made his Scotland debut the following season in the 2022 Guinness Six Nations against Wales.

Darge claimed three awards at the Warriors’ annual end-of-season dinner in 2022 – McCrea Financial Services Player of the Season, Denholm Energy Services Players’ Player, and Harper Macleod Test Player of the Season.

The openside flanker has gone on to make 67 appearances for Glasgow and was instrumental in the club’s run to the 2023/24 BKT United Rugby Championship title.

He started all three playoff fixtures, including the final at Loftus Versfeld.

Darge’s form in 2024/25 has reinforced his status as one of the most complete opensides in the game. He recorded 39 tackles in Glasgow’s opener away to Ulster – a number surpassed only once in club history by Jonny Gray.

He also matched the BKT URC record for defenders beaten by a forward in a single match, evading 10 tacklers in the recent fixture against Benetton.

“It was fairly straightforward really,” said Darge. “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.”

On the international stage, Darge played in all four of Scotland’s matches at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.

He then co-captained the national side alongside Finn Russell during the 2024 Guinness Six Nations.

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.”