'I have never won anything. It was back in school the last time'

Sione Tuipulotu is inspired by the regular reminders of Glasgow Warriors’ 2015 Pro12 triumph as this season promises a thrilling finale.

Glasgow beat Munster 31-13 in the Grand Final in Belfast eight years ago and there are photos of that achievement around their Scotstoun ground, while the Scotland centre’s team-mates such as Duncan Weir, Ryan Wilson and Fraser Brown, as well as assistant coach Peter Horne, played that day at the Kingspan Stadium.

Warriors beat Scarlets 35-17 in Llanelli on Saturday to reach the Challenge Cup final for the first time and they will face Toulon in Dublin on May 19.

Tuipulotu is “stoked to be in our first European final” but is focused on Saturday’s United Rugby Championship play-off tie against Munster.

The 26-year-old, who joined Glasgow from Eastern Suburbs in 2021, said: “I have never won anything. It was back in school the last time I won anything.

“It is quite special for me to be at a club which has recently won.

“You walk past guys in the changing room like Ryan Wilson who has won this tournament before.

“There is a sense of belief. We have guys in this team who have won this before and I didn’t have that at other clubs so we are rubbing shoulders with guys who have won it and we want to create our own history.

“Inside Scotstoun there are pictures everywhere of that Championship-winning team.

“I just want to be part of a winning team and there are a lot of boys who are really motivated to build towards that.

“I don’t want to get ahead of myself and think we are at the start of the final. We are in the last eight and earned ourselves a home game and it is about taking advantage of that.

“There is a long way to go before then and it starts this weekend with Munster.

“We haven’t won anything yet. The main focus is beating Munster on our home ground.”