Hogg and Horne return for season opener

Stuart Hogg and Peter Horne both start for Glasgow Warriors as they begin their 2018/19 Guinness PRO14 campaign in Galway

It is the third consecutive year that the Warriors have kicked off their season at the Sportsground, winning both matches in 2016 and 2017.

Hogg and Horne start at full-back and inside centre respectively, both having represented Scotland on this year’s Summer Tour, with Hogg captaining his country for the first time against the USA.

DTH van der Merwe and Tommy Seymour start on either wing and Nick Grigg joins Horne in midfield.

Adam Hastings and George Horne made their international debuts this summer and combine for their club once more this weekend.

Zander Fagerson returns to the front-row, starting alongside George Turner and Oli Kebble with Scott Cummings and Jonny Gray providing the weight behind them.

Rob Harley joins co-captains Callum Gibbins and Ryan Wilson in the back-row to complete the starting XV.

On the bench Australia International Nick Frisby is in line to make his competitive Warriors debut.

Niko Matawalu is also among the replacements having scored three tries in Glasgow’s two pre-season fixtures.

Sam Johnson sustained a knee injury against Northampton Saints in the collision which led to him being replaced and he’s expected to be out of action for six weeks, while Siua Halanukonuka injured his foot in pre-season training and is expected to be unavailable for eight weeks.

Glasgow Warriors Head Coach Dave Rennie, said: “The boys have worked hard and we’re excited to rip into it in Round 1.

“We have a tough game away to Connacht who have been in really good form in pre-season so it’s a big challenge first up.

“We’ve got a few guys coming back in which gives us a lot more experience and we think that will be important.”

Glasgow Warriors team to play Connacht in the Guinness PRO14 at the Sportsground, Saturday 1 September, kick off 3pm – live on Premier Sports 1. You can follow the game on Twitter @GlasgowWarriors. Glasgow Warriors appearances in brackets:

1. Oli Kebble (9)
2. George Turner (19)
3. Zander Fagerson (69)
4. Scott Cummings (38)
5. Jonny Gray (86)
6. Rob Harley (184)
7. Callum Gibbins (15) (CC)
8. Ryan Wilson (140) (CC)

9. George Horne (20)
10. Adam Hastings (9)
11. DTH van der Merwe (101)
12. Peter Horne (138)
13. Nick Grigg (42)
14. Tommy Seymour (115)
15. Stuart Hogg (107)

Replacements

16. Fraser Brown (75)
17. Alex Allan (74)
18. D’Arcy Rae (39)
19. Adam Ashe (52)
20. Chris Fusaro (142)
21. Nick Frisby (0)
22. Alex Dunbar (111)
23. Niko Matawalu (92)

Players unavailable due to injury: Brian Alainu’uese (back), Matt Fagerson (thigh), Siua Halanukonuka (foot), Sam Johnson (head/knee), Huw Jones (wrist), Lee Jones (achillies), Kiran McDonald (hand), Ali Price (groin) and Tim Swinson (lower limb).