Chris Fusaro’s been at Glasgow so long he remembers when Kelly Brown was his exemplar and mentor rather than his coach.
The former Scotland captain started his new job as the Warriors’ forwards coach on Tuesday, returning to the club after a decade at Saracens in England. Only Fusaro and his lifelong friend and former Howe of Fife team-mate Pete Horne remain from the squad when Brown left, although Richie Gray, who was on that team, also returned this summer after spells in England and France.
“I was still in the Academy, but based at the club and in the environment,” said the veteran back rower. “Kelly was always great with the young guys, always very easy to get along with a bit of a mentor to us all.
“When he was at Glasgow it was the “Killer Bs” back row with John Barclay and Johnnie Beattie, and it was a massive carrot to the younger players to see what they were achieving. To train with those three guys was an inspiration that made you want it all the more.
“I was also in a couple of Scotland squads with him earlier on in my career around 2013-14 but didn’t play with him at that level. I think I must have played against him when he was at Sarries but I don’t remember much about it.
“Coaches are getting younger and younger these days and guys who are fresh out of the game have got an understanding of where we are at as players at the moment, which is very helpful. He also brings that experience of winning titles with Saracens.”
Fusaro points out that with John Dalziel as forwards coach, Glasgow had the most efficient lineout in all of European Rugby last season.
“I remember playing against JD when I was 18 and fresh out of high school, he was playing for Melrose, stamping on my head at every opportunity so I learnt a lot from him that day as well.
“He’s very innovative and he’s been great for our line-out in defence and attack so hopefully he can take that on to the Scotland job.”
Fusaro is such an elder statesman with the club that one of the two groups that finally came together for “regular” training was known as “Team Fusaro” – the other was “Team Harley” – in honour of the two longest-serving club men.
“The fact we have not taken contact for over six months can only benefit us older guys,” he said. “I feel physically really, really good and speaking to other older guys, Ryan Wilson, Peter Horne, both good friends, they are the same. We are raring to go.
“We started at Murrayfield with four guys to a pitch and weight training pods. We have been doing some contact up until this week but just with the same four guys and you can’t have any contact with anyone else. I had Jale Vakaloloma, Ryan Wilson and Hamish Bain, so I was the lightest in our group by about four stone.
“This week was the first day we get the full squad back in but that is the only time we will have properly mixed as a group of 40 or 50.
“The excitement is growing and only added to by the fact that it will be two derby games to start with. Danny has not had the greatest position to start for a new head coach with Covid, the lockdown and everything, but he has been getting as much information out to us as possible and we have done a fair bit of learning and clarity.
“Fingers crossed when we come up against Edinburgh, we will hit the ground running.”