Pat MacArthur is among the Glasgow contingent in the Gael Force squad.

Glasgow Warriors trio Pat MacArthur (hooker), Peter Horne (fullback) and Chris Kinloch (wing) have been named in the first ever Gael Force squad which will play Oxford University on the Murrayfield back pitches tomorrow (Wednesday 23 September, kick-off 3pm). Entry is free.

Gael Force head coach, Stephen Gemmell, today announced the fixture which aims to provide live match action for players from the two pro-teams and also for the members of the National Academy ahead of November’s opening matches of the British and Irish Cup.

Hotly tipped National Academy player Chris Fusaro, who toured with Glasgow Warriors in the summer, is likely to feature tomorrow.

He said: “Playing for Gael Force presents another great opportunity for me to play more high intensity rugby which is obviously good for my game.

“The other benefit is that it’s like another shop window or platform for me to present myself as a player pro-team coaches.”

Whilst Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby have released 11 of their available players for the Gael Force match - which will take place instead of their individual back-up games - the remaining eleven are drawn from Scotland’s National Academy of top young talent.

Gemmell added: “Oxford University arrived on Friday and plan to use this match as preparation for their varsity game – anyone who has seen that knows the quality of rugby played.

“This is a great opportunity for our Scottish players, professional and Academy, to play different high-calibre opposition.”

Gael Force squad to play Oxford University on the Murrayfield Stadium back pitches on Wednesday 23 September (kick-off 3pm)

FORWARDS
Ryan Grant (Edinburgh Rugby)
Pat McArthur (Glasgow Warriors)
David Young (Edinburgh Rugby)
Dougie Orr (National Academy and Haddington)
Neale Patrick (National Academy and Boroughmuir)
David Denton (National Academy and Edinburgh Accies)
Fraser McKenzie (Edinburgh Rugby)
Struan Dewar (National Academy and Heriot’s)
Chris Fusaro (National Academy and Heriot’s)
Neil Rodger (National Academy and Haddington)
Stuart McInally (National Academy and Watsonians)
Colin Phillips (National Academy and Stewart’s-Melville)

BACKS
Ross Samson (Edinburgh Rugby)
Peter Jericevich (National Academy and Glasgow Hawks)
David Blair (Edinburgh Rugby)
Andrew Turnbull (Edinburgh Rugby)
Peter Horne (Glasgow Warriors)
Andrew Easson (Edinburgh Rugby)
Chris Kinloch (Glasgow Warriors)
Tom Bury (National Academy and Boroughmuir)
Steve Jones (Edinburgh Rugby)
Grant Anderson (National Academy and Ayr RFC)

Oxford University team
15 Will Browne (Balliol)

14 Luke Fenwick (University)
13 Sean Morris (Somerville)
12 Ed Boyes (Queens)
11 Tim Catling (Pembroke)

10 Ross Swanson (New)
9 Villem Klopper (Green Templeton)

1 Richard Lutton (Linacre)
2 Dan Rosen CAPTAIN (Worcester)
3 Will Johnson (Pembroke)
4 Karl Outen (St Edmunds Hall)
5 Nic Van Zyl (Green Templeton)
6 Tosa Makoto (Lady Margaret Hall)
7 Jamie Gibson (University)
8 Chris Davies (St Edmund Hall)
 
Substitutes
16 David Rogers (St Cross)
17 Hamish Macdonald (Wadham)
18 Ian Kench (St Cross)
19 Stan Keen (Harris Manchester)
20 Nick Haydon (University)
21 Jules Allfrey (Green Templeton)
22 Rhodri James (St Catherines)

ADMISSION IS FREE | Entry at Murrayfield is through Gate B (the gate opens at 2pm).

GAEL FORCE BRITISH & IRISH CUP POOL A FIXTURES
Sunday 22 November – Cornish Pirates v Gael Force, Recreation Ground, Penzance, kick-off 2pm
Saturday 28 November – Exeter Chiefs v Gael Force, Sandy Park Stadium, Exeter, kick-off 3pm
Friday 12 February – Newport v Gael Force, Rodney Parade, Newport, kick-off 7.30pm
Friday 26 February – Gael Force v Plymouth Albion, Bridgehaugh, Stirling, kick-off 7pm
Wednesday 10 March – Gael Force v Leinster, Bridgehaugh, Stirling, kick-off 7pm

Ayr are in a pool with Doncaster Knights, Rotherham Titans, Birmingham & Solihull, Pontypridd and Cardiff.
Heriot’s are in a pool with Nottingham, Coventry, Neath, Bristol and Munster.