Glasgow 'motivated' by 'gut punch' European exit - Darge

Rory Darge says Glasgow will use the “gut punch” of their European exit to aid their push towards guaranteeing home advantage in the URC knock-outs.

The Warriors were dumped out of the Champions Cup at the quarter-final stage away to Harlequins last time out but return to URC action on Friday at home to South African side Sharks.

Glasgow sit second in the league table, with the top four sides guaranteed a home quarter-final and the top two a home semi-final should they progress.

“The reason it’s a big game is every game and every performance matters now because we’re five games out from the play-offs,” flanker Darge says.

“We are a team that can play and we have different ways we can score. But Sharks have got personnel who are world class. You’ve got to take this game as it is, they’re low down the league but have something to play for, so it’ll be a tough fixture.

“We want to achieve something as a group. We have to start building belief for [the knock-out games] now.”

On the return of Adam Hastings, Darge adds: “It’s a great signing. Every time I’ve played with him he’s been a real class act.”