Rory Darge only returned to training with Glasgow on Monday but is already excited about the start of the new season and a chance for the Warriors to defend their United Rugby Championship (URC) title.
Darge was an integral part of the effort as Franco Smith’s side stunned the defending champions Munster in the semi-finals before beating the Bulls at altitude in South Africa to take the title.
It will rank among the best achievements by a Scottish side during the professional era.
But rather than look back on what they achieved, Darge is keen to look ahead to this season, which begins with a trip to Ulster on September 20, after Connacht visit Scotstoun for Glasgow’s final pre-season run-out on Saturday.
“It’s actually very easy to get going again,” the Scotland international enthused at a civic reception in Glasgow to honour the Warriors’ achievements.
What a day 💙
— Glasgow Warriors (@GlasgowWarriors) September 4, 2024
It was our privilege to accept the invitation of Lord Provost Jacqueline McLaren to attend a civic reception earlier, honouring our 23/24 @URCOfficial title victory.
Our thanks go to @GlasgowCC for hosting an unforgettable afternoon at the iconic City Chambers 🤝 pic.twitter.com/kLcKqXP2RH
Darge added: “Just remembering the elation of last season and how much joy we had at the final whistle of that final and even the games before it, the build-up to it. Our trip away to South Africa before the run-in wasn't great.
“We had that ten minutes against the Lions where we conceded a lot of points and then we went on a bit of a run. I think everyone's desperate to achieve again.”
When Franco Smith took over at Glasgow little over two years ago, the club had just lost a URC quarter-final to Leinster 76-14.
Under Smith they have been transformed, but when asked about whether he expected the turnaround to be so quick, Darge responded: “It's easy to say yes to that.
“When Franco came in, it was just after a big loss for us in our quarter-final.
“You could tell straight away that he was a guy that had massive ambition and drive. I think the players really bought into that and here we are.”
Former Italy coach Smith guided the Warriors to the Challenge Cup final in his debut season, only to meet Toulon, who were a class apart on the day.
But Darge believes the squad will take huge confidence from winning against the Bulls with their backs against the wall in the URC final.
“I know for myself and probably a few of the other boys it was the first time winning in a final,” the North Berwick RFC product said.
“We obviously had that last season against Toulon in Dublin and didn't get over the line.
“The fact that we've done it now and proved to ourselves first, I think that's most important.
“We've proved to ourselves that we can get over the line in those big games.
Less than a week on from the historic day in Pretoria, Darge was on national team duty, but he wouldn’t have swapped that for anything.
He explained: “I got five days after the final and then we were on a summer tour.
"That was quite a good way of doing it because we got the celebrations out of the system straight after the final, went away to America and trained and played with the national team, which is obviously what you always want to do, and then got into five weeks off.
“I had a couple of holidays. I went away with some of the young boys from Glasgow and then me and a couple of mates from back home went away as well.”
Darge admitted the dreaded Bronco test still awaits in his pre-season programme, but on his return to Scotstoun, the 24-year-old was greeted by some new artwork.
Managing director Al Kellock – who led the Warriors to their only previous league title in 2015 – had vowed to add the class of 2024 to the walls at Scotstoun if they got the job done in South Africa.
He’s stuck to his word.
"They've been put up already, so that's really cool,” Darge said.
“It cements the fact that we've made a bit of history. It means a massive amount.
“We always felt like we had the team to go and do something like that, but there's a massive difference between feeling like you've got a team to do it and actually doing it.
“We're very aware of what went into it, a massive amount of hard work and obviously some things have to go your way to end up with a trophy in three big play-off games.
“We're definitely grateful for the fact that we've managed to do it, but it makes you hungry to go and do it again.
And while 2015 was the culmination of years of work for that team – Kellock and fellow Warriors legend Dougie Hall retired that day, while it was the beginning of the end for a side that included Finn Russell, Stuart Hogg, Leone Nakarawa and DTH van der Merwe – this team should be able to push on.
“I think for sure it doesn't feel like this is the culmination of our journey,” said Darge, speaking at George Square before the civic reception.
“Franco definitely pushes an ethos that this is the time to go again.
“The squad can offer so much more. The mindset is not ‘that's us and we can relax now’. We want to go and achieve more.”
And after a disappointing fourth-place finish in the SIx Nations, the flanker hopes that attitude rubs off on the Scotland team.
He continued: “The national team in the Six Nations, we actually proved ourselves in another way that we were close.
"We beat England, beat Wales and had that game against France with a held up try right at the death.
“We held out Ireland for large parts and pushed them. We know that we're close and a lot of the guys that are involved in the national team are involved with Glasgow. Gaining that belief that we can do it in these big games is going to be massive.”
The visit of world champions South Africa to Scottish Gas Murrayfield in November will give Darge and his national team colleagues a chance to test themselves against the best.
“It's not just going to come because of the Glasgow Warriors winning a trophy,” he warned.
“We're still going to have to work hard from now build that belief throughout the season and then when the time comes, go and deliver.”
Meanwhile, the Warriors are aiming to raise £85,000 for the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity during the forthcoming season.
The club raised more than £53,000 for its ‘Fighting for our Families’ campaign last season, but now wants to significantly increase that total.
As part of the fundraiser, the ‘plaster it purple’ match will return when the URC champions welcome Lions to Scotstoun on March 29.
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