Blindside flanker
Kelly Brown
(62 games, 5 tries)
The Man With The Magnificent Eyebrows, Kelly Brown joined the Warriors from the defunct Borders setup in 2007. A player who could, and did, cover across the back row, Kelly found himself meshing perfectly with John Barclay and Johnnie Beattie to from the Killer B’s. Possibly the best balanced back row that Glasgow or Scotland have ever been able to field, Kelly’s role in this group was essentially as the grafter doing the unseen work and filling in as required to allow the two JBs to flourish. His departure for Saracens after the 2009/10 season spelled the end for the Killer B’s and some might argue that Johnnie Beattie has never been able to recapture the same form since, while it took John Barclay his own move away to get back to the peak of his potential. A try scorer in the famous victory in Stade Ernest Wallon, KB was that rare player who could adapt his play depending on what the game required and he always put the team first.
Openside flanker
John Barclay
(132 games, 14 tries)
The second member of the fabled Killer B’s to make the team, John Barclay was one of the youngest players to play for Glasgow (although even at 21 he was acting like a middle-aged man!). A talented all-rounder who complemented sound work at the breakdown with good vision, good hands and a nice line in grubber kicks, John also displayed leadership potential early on, chastising his teammates after a narrow loss to Toulouse (although actually maybe that was just grumpiness seeping through and not leadership…). As someone who was breaking into the side when it as at its lowest ebb in 20005/06 he must find it extraordinary to see how far the club have travelled on and off the field. For his significant role in that transformation we salute him. He was often seen as a future captain of Glasgow and Scotland – while it’s possible that those ships have sailed he has continued to lead from the front for the Scarlets and there are many who would welcome him back if he was to follow the well-trodden path of returning to the Warriors after a spell outside Scotland.
Number 8
Josh Strauss
(74 games, 7 tries)
The Beard To Be Feared was the first high profile example of a project player taken on by Glasgow. Arriving with season 2012/13 already underway after Viliami Ma’afu had unexpectedly left the club, Josh brought a reputation as a player who was possibly unlucky to remain on the fringes of selection for the Springboks. The heavy winter pitches of the Pro 12 must have been a shock to the system but his all action approach allowed him to battle through and become one of the club’s most consistent performers. The last year and a bit have brought plenty of memorable moments for Josh including: leading out Glasgow in the Grand Final; making his Scotland debut; and playing against the country of his birth in the RWC.
On Top Of The Moon 