Fraser Brown aims to bounce back from his World Cup disappointment with Scotland in the perfect manner by helping Glasgow to their first European trophy. The 33-year-old was left out of Gregor Townsend’s 41-man World Cup training squad last week despite winning his 61st cap during the Guinness Six Nations.
But the hooker has been handed a subsequent boost by signing a Warriors contract extension and can bounce back further when his side play in the EPCR Challenge Cup final against Toulon on Friday.
“I had a brief chat with Gregor on Tuesday morning,” he said. “The depth we have across all positions is so strong that there is going to be tos and fros between who is in and who is out of the squad across the season.
“It’s just one of things, it’s a selection decision. You move on and focus on the next thing. I have been lucky enough to play in two World Cups and it is the pinnacle of your career internationally.
“Look, it’s a disappointment but all I can do is focus on what I am doing here. We have got one last game of the season, which is a huge game for us. All my focus is on that.
“We are lucky here that we have had big games at the end of the season. Obviously, you are disappointed when you get the news but you do move on and there is no better way to move on than play in a European final.”
Warriors have scored 139 points in their three knockout games and beaten both Bath and Perpignan away from home in the group stage, but Brown knows Warriors will need to be at the top of their form at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.
“We need to play our best game,” he said. “All season we have been strong up front, we have had a strong maul and a strong scrum which has got even stronger as the season goes on.
“Our attack speaks for itself, we have players from 1-23 who are able to handle the ball and attack well. And our defence has been the foundation of absolutely everything we have done.
“We wouldn’t have the confidence to go out and play the attacking rugby that we do if we didn’t have the defence capabilities that we have.
“But we are going to have to bring it all. Toulon are an excellent side with some proper world-class players and they will have done their job, previewed us, worked out how they can try and stop us.”
On his new deal, Brown added: “I’m delighted to be here for another year. Glasgow has not only been a massive part of my year but also my life and my family’s life, so to continue my 10/11-year journey is something I am very proud of.”
