'A lot of growing up was done': Glasgow Warriors forward on his South Africa experience as he signs new deal

The versatile 25-year-old spent six months in the Western Cape university town in 2018 and credits the experience with helping shape him as a person and a player.

Fraser had just left school and was playing for Dundee HSFP when he was one of three youngsters awarded the John Macphail Rugby Scholarship. He and fellow Scottish Rugby Academy players Andrew Jardine (Melrose) and Guy Kelly (Biggar) decamped to South Africa where they were based at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport.

The Warriors, who are in midst of their two-match tour of South Africa, have been using the facility as they look to get back to winning ways against the Stormers in Cape Town. They lost heavily to the Lions in Johannesburg last week but retain top spot, four points ahead of the Stormers who also lost, to Connacht.

A lot of growing up was done

“It’s been good to be back here in Stellenbosch,” said Fraser. “I was lucky enough to get the Macphail scholarship so we were out here for six months from January 2018. It was great fun.

“There was a lot growing up done here. First time living away from home when you're halfway across the world was definitely challenging but I enjoyed every minute of it. And I think the system that they’ve got here at SAS is a great place to be and the facilities are so good.”

Fraser, who has committed his immediate future to Glasgow by signing a new two-year contract, said Saturday’s game was “massive” as both teams vie to finish the regular season in top spot to secure extended home advantage in the play-offs.

“We need to change the momentum a little bit,” said Fraser who came off the bench against the Lions and in the Champions Cup defeat by Toulon the previous week. “It's one versus two at the top of the league. They're going to be coming at us so we know the challenge that we've got and we know that we need to get back to being us.”