Matt Fagerson admitted lifting the URC trophy alongside brother Zander made it even more special.

The pair were again instrumental as Glasgow defeated the Bulls in Pretoria in the URC grand final.

And the younger Fagerson paid tribute to his older sibling for paving the way for him in his own rugby career. The back-rower said: “It means absolutely everything.

“Coming through school and watching Zander progress into the professional ranks, I’ve watched him grow arguably into one of the best tight-heads in the world.

“And the work he puts in, the 80 minutes shifts he’s done the last three weeks, is just beyond exceptional.

“To do it with him, and to do it for our family, our partners and our kids back home, is just hard to put into words.”

READ MORE: Zander Fagerson dreaming of winning title with brother Matt

Fagerson also felt that peaking towards the end of a long season was one in the eye to anyone who had doubted him – or the team – earlier in the campaign.

He added: “It has been an up and down season. I think in the last month or so I have gone back to what makes me a good rugby player.

“I’ve probably been getting frustrated in games when certain things weren’t going my way personally. I’ve looked at the wider picture, the team and what I can bring to that. When you’re playing with your mates and people you love coming to work with, it makes it all that easier.

Matt Fagerson in action in the URC finalMatt Fagerson in action in the URC final (Image: Getty)

“We had some great games in Europe and then the last four games of the URC sums up the entire season in terms of the way the boys have fought. We’ve trained hard and not used the travel as an excuse.

“Personally, it’s been a pleasure to be part of it. When you’re playing with your mates and it’s such an enjoyable group, I think that brings out your best.”

Kyle Steyn also praised the fortitude of the Glasgow players for fighting all the way.

Warriors had to do it the hard way with away ties in the semi-final and final and Steyn felt that added to the success.

The captain said: “I’m really proud of the boys, and really proud of the group. I’m really proud of the group who are not here as well. We had to leave boys behind to come and get the job done this week but those boys have contributed a hell of a lot to our season.

“I’m really thankful to everyone at Glasgow Warriors and to the community as a whole for their support. They got behind us this year and I can’t wait to see them all when we get back.

“Franco talks about that hard edge and I think we have been searching for that as a group, particularly over the last 12 months.

“There is just something about experience… you can’t really get it until you’ve done it. And I think the belief that particularly our forwards have shown up front to give us that hard edge over the last weeks will give us a lot of belief going forward.”

Steyn also explained why he was wearing ski goggles in his post-match media conference.

The South African-born Scotland winger added: “My dad and my brother are doing the security for us and we’ve been on a couple of ski holidays back home.

“The thing I‘ve discovered in rugby celebrations is that you need goggles to protect yourself from all the champagne spray.

“So my brother packed a couple of pairs and when we came off the pitch tonight they were ready and waiting. So, myself, Sione and a couple of other boys have got them on.”