George Horne has spent a decade as a first-team regular at Glasgow Warriors and he believes the current crop of youngsters emerging are the best ever.
Nine members of last year’s academy group have signed professional deals for the new season and they will be entrusted with increased responsibility.
Glasgow lost six experienced internationals this summer and Franco Smith has spoken repeatedly about the importance of the pathway between the Warriors’ academy and senior squad.
Fergus Watson, Seb Stephen and Johnny Ventisei are just a few names aiming to establish themselves next season and Horne is excited about their potential.
"It's brilliant,” he said. “I'd go as far to say it's the best strength of an academy group that's turned pro that I've ever seen at the club.
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"The way they've developed over the last two years, which is down to them and down to the academy coaches and S&C, they're big, fast, powerful guys. So it's exciting to see how much they've come on and there's just so many of them now.
"Usually, over the years, you'll maybe trickle in a Dobie or Darge or Gregor Brown and there'll maybe be three or four from each age group. This year, I don't know how many there are but it's over 10 at least, so it's class to see those guys.
"They've played a lot of rugby together through age grade level and district level with Glasgow and stuff so they know each other's games really well and you can see that in training. It's exciting for them, I'm really looking forward to seeing them get cracked in."
Horne is one of the most experienced members of Glasgow’s squad and he’s looking forward to orchestrating a back-line, which could feature several academy graduates.
“I've got a real soft spot for Johnny Ventisei,” he added. “I don't know why it is, but I've really got a lot of time for him and the way he came on against Leinster in his first game last year and looked like he had already played 50 games and it wasn't his first game.
"Going up against an unbelievable Leinster team, Rieko Ioane was his opposite man and nothing really fazed him.
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"When Kerr Johnston and Kerr Yule got their cracks last year as well they just kind of settled in and looked like they'd been doing it for years. That is the most encouraging thing to see, just how they have settled in so quickly.
"Matty Urwin's been unbelievable in training. He's maybe not had as many opportunities in the first team yet but he's definitely going to get that this year and he's one to watch for sure. He can do it all, he's got all the bags of tricks."
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