Glasgow Warriors star George Horne has a unique and unwavering pre-match superstition that he carries onto the pitch, no matter the occasion. The prolific scrum-half is always the last player to leave the changing room, a habit he admits he copied from his older brother, former Scotland international Peter Horne.
The Superstition and The Stage
"People think it's because I'm doing my hair," Horne joked, dismissing the theory. "It's really not! I think I just copied my brother. He used to always come out last. So that's something I do now. Always the last one out." The irony is not lost on the Dundee-born player, whose explosive speed and try-scoring prowess for Glasgow are legendary. As the club's all-time leading try-scorer, his eagerness to get into the action is unmistakable.
That appetite will be crucial this weekend as Glasgow Warriors travel to Murrayfield for the second leg of the 1872 Cup, holding a 24-12 aggregate lead from last week's first-leg victory at Hampden. While pleased with the bonus-point win, Horne is far from complacent. "We're obviously really happy to get the win and get five points for the league," he said. "That was huge. What was disappointing was we just didn't come away with as many points as we probably should have."
Learning from the Best and Chasing Improvement
Horne's drive for constant improvement is a personal mantra, heavily influenced by head coach Franco Smith. This mindset was forged in his early days at the Howe of Fife and honed on the global Sevens circuit, where he scored 18 tries in seven events between 2016 and 2018, earning a Commonwealth Games call-up. When asked about a potential return to Sevens, perhaps for a 2030 Commonwealth Games in India, Horne was enthusiastic. "I love my time playing sevens... If I was to get the chance to play again I would definitely be up for it."
Another key inspiration is French maestro Antoine Dupont, whom Horne recently faced—and defeated—when Glasgow beat Toulouse in the Champions Cup. "He's unbelievable," Horne admitted. "He's kind of got everything to his game... He's a bit of a benchmark for scrum-halves. I certainly look up to him and try and learn from him." Horne acknowledged Dupont's physical superiority but emphasised the value in studying his level-headed temperament and all-round skill set.
Perspective Beyond the Pitch
Maintaining perspective is vital for Horne, a lesson reinforced by his role as patron of the Edinburgh-based charity Cancer Card. Founded by Jen Hardy, the charity's work has deeply impacted him. "Little things like that just make you realise that there's more to life than rugby," Horne reflected. "It definitely puts things into perspective. You look at Sir Chris Hoy for instance and see what he is going through... I hope in some way I can do the same."
This balanced outlook will underpin his approach to the high-pressure derby at Murrayfield. Horne is acutely aware of the threat posed by an Edinburgh side eager to overturn the deficit, especially in front of a home crowd. "We know the threats they have in their back line," he cautioned. "Our defence did a pretty good job... but we know we'll have to go a step up."
With Glasgow having lost the last two second-leg matches at Murrayfield (while still winning the aggregate), Horne is determined to break that pattern. "It's a huge motivator," he stated. "We want to win every time we go out onto the field... We'll definitely be going into this year looking to improve on our performance and try to come out on the right side of the scoreboard." The battle for the 1872 Cup recommences at Murrayfield on Saturday at 3pm.
