Match Preview | Pre-Season | Zebre Parma (A)

Match Preview | Pre-Season | Zebre Parma (A)

Your Glasgow Warriors are back, as the team fly to Italy to take on fellow BKT URC side Zebre Parma in the first pre-season fixture for 2024/25.

After an unforgettable title-winning 2023/24 season, Glasgow Warriors new and old have their sights set on replicating last year’s success – if not going even further. The Warriors take on Zebre in pre-season just as they did ahead of the previous campaign, and will face the team a further two times in the United Rugby Championship this year.

In the 2023/24 pre-season fixture held at Scotstoun Stadium, Zebre battled hard but fell short against a young Warriors squad. With some fresh faces in Glasgow’s expanded academy for 2024/25, Franco Smith may look to test the depth of his squad once more whilst regular starters, like Stafford McDowall, are rested after a long summer tour with Scotland.  

Rising stars in the club and U20 international game could be set to start this year’s first game. Full-back Fergus Watson was a key figure in Scotland U20s Men securing the World Trophy in July. The 19-year-old featured in the academy last season and will be learning from fellow fullbacks Josh McKay and Ollie Smith.

Other notable young players rising the ranks include Duncan Munn and Ben Afshar. Both players made their senior debuts last season. Afshar, on his first professional start, scored a thrilling try right under the posts against the Dragons in round 10 of last season’s BKT URC. Munn has also become a familiar face on and off the field with fellow colleagues and supporters.  

New signing Fin Richardson may also be set to get his first start for the club. After two seasons in the southwest of England playing for Exeter Chiefs and Cornish Pirates, the Edinburgh-born prop will be raring to get a start in Glasgow colours. 

Other new signings for the Warriors this season include Adam Hastings and Rory Sutherland. However, given both players made appearances in the Americas tour with Scotland, supporters may have to wait a little longer to see them feature in Franco Smith’s squad. 

Zebre Parma are a side that play with flair and pace. Previously when they came to Scotstoun for a pre-season game, the Warriors pipped them to the post. Zebre’s attacking DNA and tendency to play wide with the ball resulted in some fantastic tries and lots of bonus-points in the URC last season. However, Zebre have recently signed a new Head Coach for 2024/25. Massimo Brunello—outgoing Italy U20 head coach—has been appointed head coach of Zebre Parma, replacing Fabio Roselli.  

The Italy U20 Men had mixed success under Brunello with a relatively equal win to loss ratio in the 2024 fixtures. However, given the youth in Zebre Parma’s squad, Brunello takes the position as Head Coach of the side with a wealth of knowledge in how to bring out the best in young players. Last week, Zebre came away with a draw in their first pre-season friendly against Oyonnax Rugby.

The match-up on Saturday 31 August is likely to be a test between two young sides. Glasgow has a strong history of squad rotation under Franco Smith. For Brunello, the game will be a test to see how his game plan fits with Zebre’s style of play and aims. For Smith, he will be continuing to test his squad’s depth and fitness ahead of the URC starting at the end of next month.  

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