Derby days still top of Harley’s wishlist as he closes in on double ton
FOR Rob Harley, intercity derby matches were always the most important encounters when he was growing up, and that remains the case today even as Glasgow Warriors aim to hit new heights by reaching the knockout stages in the Champions Cup and the Pro14 in the same season for the first time.
The versatile forward, who has spent eight years at the club, is honing in on becoming the first man to make 200 appearances for the Warriors, joining them at a time when the 1872 Challenge Cup was the only trophy they had a realistic chance of winning.
Since then they have become regulars in the Pro14 play-offs and while they have previously struggled in Europe – making the knockout stages just once – there is growing evidence that their current management is finding the way to unlock their potential, allowing them to contend on both fronts.
Harley certainly believes that is the case, but their meetings with Edinburgh still hold special meaning for the native Glaswegian.
“We’ve been lucky that we’ve got the quality in the squad,” said the 28-year-old. “When I was growing up, this was the biggest game as a fan you’d come and watch and I think it’s still that way. On a personal level it’s more about the rivalry and trying to make a mark.”
This time last year Edinburgh’s victory in the first of the derbies was a major shock as they ended their neighbours’ 10-match winning streak in spite of playing most of the match with only 14 men. After losing the return in Glasgow a week later, they went on to lift the 1872 Cup in the decider towards the end of the season, but Harley does not believe that the introduction of a third match as part of the new Pro14 Conference format has changed the dynamics significantly.
“The third game will be later on, so playing back-to-back over Christmas it’s kind of the same,” he said.