Ultimate XV: Scottish Derby - Picking A Combined All-Time Edinburgh & Glasgow Warriors Squad

Many icons of Scotland's past and present have played in the 1872 Cup, with the nation's two professional sides more often having an equal share of the international talents. So, with the Edinburgh v Glasgow clash coming in over the horizon, we had a go at piecing together an Ultimate XV of the top players from each club's decorated history.

Now, you may be surprised with some omissions on this list, as we are considering each players club contributions above all other accolades. Despite the likes of Finn Russell being arguably Scotland's finest fly half, the Bath halfback has spent considerable periods of his career outside of Glasgow, after spells in France and more recently lately the Premiership. So Russell, like many other top Scottish internationals, miss out on a spot in our XV.

It's club over everything in this Ultimate XV, and here are our picks for a combined Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors side.

We kick off this recount of Scotland greats, with the latest generational talent to hang up the boots. Stuart Hogg called time on his rugby career ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, and wrapped up his playing days with Exeter Chiefs. Prior to his move to Devon, Hogg spent nine years with Glasgow Warriors, and won the 2014/15 Pro12 title with the club. Scotland’s all-time leading try scorer with 25 test match tries, Hogg is the first name on this list of Glasgow and Edinburgh legends.

Slotting in on the right wing is another Scotland record holder, as Chris Paterson has the honour of being the nation’s leading points scorer. Paterson’s versatility to play on the wing, fullback and even fly half rarely ever seeing him out of the Edinburgh side. Despite making his debut for Glasgow in 1998, Paterson spent the celebrated majority of his club career at Edinburgh, where he won he Scottish Championship in his first season. He is the club's all time leading points scorer, as he racked up a grand total of 783 points for the Scottish capital side.

Coming in on the left wing is Tim Visser, who holds the tremendous accolade of being Edinburgh's all-time top try scorer. Visser's stunning efforts saw him score 60 tries across just five seasons at the club, in what goes down amongst the best strike rates of the early 2010s. Averaging a scintillating 12 tries per season, the 'Flying Dutchman' gained prominence amongst the top European clubs, and led Edinburgh to EPCR Challenge Cup runners-up medals ahead of his departure. After half a decade in Edinburgh, Visser moved to London where he joined Harlequins, before retiring in 2019.

The immensely talented Daniel Tailliferre Hauman van der Merwe slots in at centre, although there is an equal claim for the South African-born star to also take the spot at fullback and out on the wing. DTH was as versatile as they come, and shone in each position for the Warriors. Van der Merwe racked up just short of a century of Warriors appearances with 96, yet holds the record for the most Glasgow tries with 54 scores for the club. The Canadian international was instrumental in Glasgow's 2015 Pro12 title triumph, and remains a fondly remembered star of Glasgow's early 2010s.

Alongside playing his amateur rugby with Watsonians RFC, Scott Hasting's career-long commitment to Edinburgh is the stuff of Scottish legend. An icon Scotland’s late amateur era, who ushered the national side into the professional rugby landscape. Scott Hastings was at times overshadowed by his brother Gavin, who plied his trade across Edinburgh, London Scottish and the Scottish Exiles. The midfielder possessed a canny ability to glide past his opponents, and won back-to-back Scottish Inter-District Championships in 1998 and 1999.

Hasting’s iconic try-saving tackle on Rory Underwood lives long in Scottish memory, as he stopped England from scoring, and in turn won the historic 1990 Six Nations Grand Slam decider.

Dan Parks slots in at fly half, with the legendary Glasgow 10 taking the mantle as the club's all time top points scorer. Parks certainly kept the score-board ticking over throughout his time at the Scotstoun, and racked up a staggering total of 1,520 points. This record does not look to be getting broken anytime soon, as the second closest effort sits 355 points adrift in the retired Tommy Hayes' best efforts. Parks won the 1872 Cup twice upon it's creation in 2007, as he bested Edinburgh's defence for triumphs in 2008 and 2010.

We partner Parks up with arguably the greatest scrum half of a generation in Greig Laidlaw. The Edinburgh legend ran out in the capital for seven years, before moving to Gloucester and eventually pursuing efforts across France and Japan. Laidlaw ran the attacking line for Edinburgh for the best part of his tenure with the club, and is almost amongst the finest talents to captain the Scottish national team. Laidlaw led his nation for seven years before hanging up his test match boots in 2019, for his 76th and final Scotland cap.

Moving onto the forwards now, and first up is the most capped Edinburgh player of all time. Allan Jacobsen's immense shift for the club saw him accrue a total of 286 caps across 14 seasons. This monstrous effort puts him down amongst the side's greatest contributors, and he even crossed over for seven tries during his on-field Edinburgh career. Jacobsen was flung into success, as he won the aforementioned back-to-back Scottish league titles in his first two campaigns with the club.

Former Glasgow Warriors club captain Gordon Bulloch comes in at hooker. Bulloch was a revered front rower across Scotland, and his reputation proceeded him throughout the British Isles and beyond. As no-nonsense and hard-hitting as they come, Bulloch possessed the old-school skillset that fans of yester-year remember so fondly. Bulloch's opponents remember their battles with him less fondly, throughout the hooker's nine year run in Glasgow.

Wrapping up the front row is Glasgow tight-head Zander Fagerson, who is arguably in contention amongst the nation's finest ever number threes. If Fagerson continues at this rate, he could be on track to break Ross Ford’s Scotland appearence record in years to come. At just 27-years-old, Fagerson has already made 62 appearances for his country, and looks to have improved in each and every run out. A Glasgow Warriors lifer, his roots embedded deep in the city. Fagerson’s off-field career sees him take up an Assistant Coach role with amateur club Glasgow High Kelvinside.

Grant Gilchrist has been amongst Edinburgh's leadership group since 2015, when he was appointed to the role of vice captain. The lock is a product of the Edinburgh Rugby Academy, and has shown the spoils of the John Macphail Scholarship, which involves a season's stint in New Zealand. Gilchrist has led his side since being named co-captain with Stuart McInally in 2016, before taking full control of the reins in the Scottish capital. Gilchrist is an icon of Edinburgh, and is one of the longest serving current stalwarts, with 194 caps and counting.

Al Kellock is one of a few notable talents, to star consistently for both Edinburgh and Glasgow. After making his breakthrough with Edinburgh in 2002, he soon rose through the ranks whilst packing down the scrum. Kellock would take Edinburgh to Celtic Cup winners medals in 2004, and would not taste silverware until swapping allegiances in his move to Glasgow. Kellock captained the Warriors to the 2014/15 Pro12 title, before hanging up his boots in his final season.

Starting off our back-row is Glasgow stalwart Rob Harley, who holds the honour of being the club's all-time leading appearence holder. The flanker made a career in Glasgow with his unrelenting work-rate, and how he left his opponents on the deck with a well-timed hit. Ending his time in Scotland with a phenomenal 267 Glasgow caps, Harley would first move to Carcassonne in the French second division, before heading stateside and joining Old Glory DC.

One of the most popular Scotland players ever comes in on the openside, with Hamish Watson donning our seven jersey. The 'Mish' is adored by the Edinburgh faithful, whether he is running out for his club or country in tartan and blue. The 2021 Six Nations Player of the Tournament rose to prominence with fearless performances for Edinburgh, with his debut now an archaic memory from nearly 13 years ago. With an excellent tackle technique and amongst the world’s best over the jackal, Watson tends to come away unscathed from danger, and reaping the plaudits for his side.

Rounding off our starting XV is John Barclay, who is one of several former Scotland captains named amongst the squad. The former Glasgow and Edinburgh man was as tough as they come in the carry, and would batter his way through the gain-line, leaving his opponents bruised on the deck. Most prominently a Warrior, Barclay was Glasgow's youngest ever player when he made his debut, aged just 18-years and 41-days old. Following his retirement, Barclay is still seen amongst the rugby landscape, as he offers punditry during Scotland matches.