Team named for 2020/21 Guinness PRO14 opener

Glasgow Warriors Head Coach Danny Wilson has named a matchday 23 containing no fewer than 17 internationals for this weekend’s clash with Connacht, the club’s opening match of the 2020/21 campaign.

Club co-captains
Ryan Wilson and Fraser Brown are both selected in the starting XV, as the
Warriors look to defend a strong recent record in visits to The Sportsground.

Brown is
flanked in the front row by Oli Kebble and D’arcy Rae, with the former making
his 50^th appearance in Glasgow Warriors colours.

Scott
Cummings and Rob Harley are paired together in the second-row, having impressed
both in the loose and at the set-piece against Edinburgh last time out.

Matt
Fagerson packs down at number eight, with the vastly experienced duo of Wilson
and Chris Fusaro starting on the flanks.

Behind the
scrum, Ali Price gets the nod to start in the number nine jersey, partnering
Adam Hastings in the half-backs.

Stafford
McDowall lines up at inside-centre alongside Nick Grigg, with both men having
caught the eye in the August win at BT Murrayfield.

The
back-three sees Robbie Nairn handed a first start for Glasgow Warriors since
the opening match of the 2019/20 season against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein,
as the former Scotland U20 joins Tommy Seymour and Huw Jones in the starting
lineup.

On the
bench, Aki Seiuli returns to the matchday squad for the first time since
February after recovering from a thumb injury to join George Turner –
also in line for his 50^th appearance for the club – and Enrique Pieretto as the front-row cover.

New signing
Fotu Lokotui is in line to make his club debut after being named in the number
20 jersey, whilst Richie Gray completes the pack replacements.

George and
Pete Horne start on the bench this weekend, as Ratu Tagive rounds out the
replacements.

Speaking to glasgowwarriors.org, Wilson said: “We have been working hard during this mini preseason and now all eye are on the new season.

“We’re looking forward to seeing Oli Kebble and George Turner both make their 50th appearance for the club and we’re excited to see Fotu Lokotui get his first appearance off the bench.

“We know the conditions we could face at The Sportsground and how Connacht like to play, and we’re ready for the challenge they present.

“We’ve worked hard over the last month, and we’re excited to get our season underway tomorrow.”

Glasgow
Warriors team to play Connacht in the Guinness PRO14, Saturday 3 August,
kick-off 5.15pm, live on Premier Sports 1. You can follow the action in the
Live Match Centre on glasgowwarriors.org. Glasgow Warriors appearances in
brackets.

1. Oli
Kebble (49)
2. Fraser Brown (C) (100)
3. D’arcy Rae (71)
4. Rob Harley (232)
5. Scott Cummings (70)
6. Ryan Wilson (170)
7. Chris Fusaro (179)
8. Matt Fagerson (63)

9. Ali Price
(88)
10. Adam Hastings (44)
11. Robbie Nairn (10)
12. Stafford McDowall (21)
13. Nick Grigg (71)
14. Tommy Seymour (144)
15. Huw Jones (37)

Replacements

16. George
Turner (49)
17. Aki Seiuli (11)
18. Enrique Pieretto (1)
19. Richie Gray (48)
20. Fotu Lokotui (0)
21. George Horne (57)
22. Pete Horne (171)
23. Ratu Tagive (13)

Unavailable
for selection: Sam
Johnson, Lee Jones, Sean Kennedy, Kiran McDonald, Kyle Steyn.

Tom Gordon and Zander
Fagerson are unavailable for selection for the upcoming game in order to comply
with the necessary Scottish Government Covid-19 isolation protocols and to
protect the medical integrity of the wider squad.