Glasgow Warriors are out of the United Rugby Championship after losing their semi-final to the Bulls despite leading 21-3. The result turned a promising route to the final into a painful end to a season that had raised expectations.
Glasgow’s early control was built on two Kyle Steyn tries and a penalty try awarded after the Bulls stopped a maul illegally near their line. But the Warriors did not add to their tally after that point, while the Bulls stayed close enough to shift the match once momentum changed.
Discipline became a major part of the story. Handre Pollard spent 10 minutes off for a deliberate knock-on during the period when Glasgow scored twice, but the Bulls later made use of Scott Cummings’ yellow card, with Embrose Papier and Francois Klopper among the try-scorers in the comeback.
The defeat will sharpen debate about how to judge Glasgow’s wider season. They topped the URC regular-season standings and produced a perfect Champions Cup pool stage, including wins over Toulouse and Saracens, but also missed out on both a European semi-final and a URC final.
With more squad change expected at Scotstoun, including departures involving Huw Jones, Jack Dempsey and Adam Hastings, the question now is whether Franco Smith’s side can turn this campaign’s high standards into another challenge next season.
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