GLASGOW WARRIORS
MEAN streets? Not so much. Glasgow defence coach Kenny Murray revealed earlier this week that the Warriors would tap into the mentality of the notorious gangs that once made Glasgow one of the most feared places in the world.
However, 28-year-old Harley, who was schooled in Milngavie, admitted he and his team-mates were not quite of that ilk.
“It’s not really my background. There are a few guys who aren’t too close to that,” he said, with a faint smile.
He even acknowledged that the imagery does not quite fit with how the city now promotes itself.
“One of our physios sent me an article last week about how Glasgow turned itself around with a from the British capital of knife crime to the safest city within a few years. So I am not sure it [gang culture] represents the city as a whole,” Harley pointed out.
But the Glasgow Warrior is as tough as rugby players come and his resilience is represented by the extraordinary record he will set at their Champions Cup showdown this weekend.
When Cardiff Blues visit Scotstoun on Sunday, Harley will become the first Warrior to make a 200th appearance for the club.
Harley also indicated a willingness to buy into the attitude Murray and his fellow coaches are trying to kindle within their squad.
“I think what he is saying is that we all protect each other and have each other’s backs, hunting as a pack. That is what we are trying to get from our defence, that we are ferocious and that we all work together,” said Harley.
No-one has done more to bring Glasgow to the cusp of joining European’s rugby’s elite than the lock-cum-flanker.
And the selflessness that marks his playing style was evident even when asked to identify one highlight among those 200 appearances.
His mind immediately jumped to the way the team claimed its solitary major title to date, their PRO12 triumph of 2015.
It was Harley who registered the try in that final to send them on their way to victory over Munster. Characteristically, though, the Warrior re-directed the bulk of the credit even for that score.
“I think in those games everything went well for us,” he recalled. “We played great defence, Naksi [Fijian lock Leone Nakarawa] was absolutely electric. I scored but he beat about six defenders and passed the ball to me.”
Harley acknowledged Glasgow’s solitary appearance in a quarter-final in 2016 set new standards.
This weekend Glasgow can go close to reaching the last eight once again.
“It is a big milestone and it’s a measure of achievement, of being one of the best clubs in Europe,” said Harley.