Glasgow Warriors fought back from 13-0 down to beat the Bulls 21-16 in South Africa and win the United Rugby Championship for the first time since 2015; Stream rugby in 2024 with Sports Month Membership NOW
Last updated: 22/06/24 21:02
Glasgow Warriors players celebrate with the trophy after winning the United Rugby Championship final in South Africa
Glasgow Warriors secured their first Rugby United Championship title since 2015 after a 21-16 victory over the Bulls at a sold-out Loftus Versfeld.
After beating the Stormers, the 2022 champions, and defending champions Munster to reach the Grand Final, the Warriors avoided a third defeat on the show with an impressive performance in Pretoria.
A pair of Johan Goosen penalties separated the teams before Marco van Staden’s try, converted by Goosen, gave the Bulls – beaten by the Stormers in the 2022 final – a 13-0 lead.
Johan Goosen helped the Bulls get off to a fast start in the final, where they opened up a 13-0 advantage.
Glasgow pulled themselves back into the game on the stroke of half-time when Scott Cummings headed over the line, with George Horne adding the extras.
Goosen’s third penalty extended the Bulls’ lead to nine points, but tries from George Turner and Huw Jones, both converted by Horne, ensured the Warriors would win.
How Glasgow claims URC glory
The Bulls, who have lost just one of their last 12 URC matches at this venue, took the lead at 100 seconds through Goosen’s penalty. A second successful kick was taken before Wilco Louw was disallowed for a try by the TMO, who deemed him held by Rory Darge.
But the Bulls were not to be denied moments later when Van Staden burst through the Glasgow defence, with Goosen grabbing the conversion.
Glasgow responded well and gave us some time before the break when Cummings went over and Horne converted. Buoyed by the score, Glasgow came out strongly in the second half but another Goosen penalty brought relief for the Bulls.
But minutes later, Warriors reduced the deficit to just two points when Turner, in his final appearance for the club, headed over from the maul, which Horne converted.
Jones then grabbed Glasgow’s third try, with Horne again succeeding from the t, to lead for the first time in the game before Jack Dempsey was denied another by the TMO.
Horne was just short with a long-range penalty try but Glasgow had to see out the final moments with 14 men after Tom Jordan was booked for a tackle on Francois Klopper. The Scottish side survived late Bulls pressure to be crowned champions.
Fagerson: I can’t put it into words
Glasgow Warriors Scotland center Huw Jones (R) celebrates with tight end Zander Fagerson (R) after scoring a try against The Bulls (Pretoria)
Player of the match Matt Fagerson: “Words can’t describe how we feel right now. It’s something we’ve been doing all season and to do it in such a historic place in front of these fans, I can’t say enough.
“I think in the last three or four games we’ve been really happy to beat the rugby because we’re not overplaying the ball and when you’ve got a kicker like George Horne it makes everything easier.
Glasgow Warriors Head coach Franco Smith: “The guys have played well, bought in. The half-time conversation was easy. We knew we had a good plan for the second half. We let them in through their own mistakes, like last week.
“There is a lot to be said for the hard edge of the European team and we brought it tonight, especially in the last 10-15 minutes. We defended our line well and put a lot of pressure on the maul. The boys in front of the South African team were very strong with 50,000 people behind them can be very proud.
“This team doesn’t have to be done after tonight. We’ve got the building blocks to go even further.”
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