Interview: League Points and Bragging Rights
9 Dec 2025
STIRLING, SCOTLAND - OCTOBER 22: (L-R) Edinburgh's Magnus Bradbury, Edinburgh's Duhan van der Merwe, Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt, Glasgow Warriors head coach Franco Smith, Glasgow Warriors' Sione Tuipulotu and Glasgow Warriors' Rory Darge during a media day ahead of the 1872 Cup between Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby the Wallace Monument, on October 22, 2025, in Stirling, Scotland. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group) It’s one of the milestone fortnights in every season. Two cities, two clubs, two monumental clashes. As Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby prepare to face off in the 1872 Cup later this month, hear from Rory Darge and Magnus Bradbury on what makes this time of year that bit more special…
How big a milestone in every season is the 1872 Cup double-header?
MB: It’s probably changed a little bit over the years, because both teams are now consistently involved in the race for the playoffs at the end of the season. That makes the league points so important, but those bragging rights are definitely still there. We’ve just spent a lot of time together in camp over the autumn, we’ll have this fortnight of European rugby, and then we’re back into getting stuck into each other again! It’s hugely exciting for everyone.
RD: The league points are obviously the most important element – you see the difference a couple of points here and there can have at the end of the season. Every result will have a consequence – it could be the difference between being at home and away in the playoffs. There’s also definitely a bit more to these games. There’s a different feeling around the club, and everyone wants to go out and test themselves against guys they know really well.
How much are bragging rights brought up between you all in national camp?
RD: I think it depends on who’s won and who you’re speaking to!
MB: [laughs] The Fagersons.
RD: If Edinburgh win, Marshall Sykes lets everyone know. Duhan [van der Merwe], too, he likes to have a few words here and there.
MB: Sione [Tuipulotu] isn’t shy about it either.
RD: It’s definitely something that gets brought up, but obviously that’s not the main thing. The main thing is getting the right result.
How important are the supporters over the festive fortnight?
MB: It’s huge. The privilege of getting to play in the main bowl of Scottish Gas Murrayfield makes it so much more accessible to supporters that might not ordinarily come to a home match at the Hive. It’s one of the games where support can make such a massive difference, and every single one of them means so much to us. We wouldn’t have clubs without the supporters and it’s a privilege to be able to represent them.
RD: I completely agree. From a Glasgow side, the Hampden element is obviously a pretty new phenomenon, and we saw last year how special an atmosphere it can be. I was in the stands last year, and I got a real appreciation of just how electric the atmosphere was that day. Whether its at Scotstoun, Hampden or somewhere on the road, the Warrior Nation are always there and ready to help carry us through.
