Rennie names squad for pre-season opener

Glasgow Warriors head coach Dave Rennie has named a 32-man squad for tomorrow’s pre-season encounter, which will see his side travel to Belfast to take on Ulster at the Kingspan Stadium.

A playing group featuring several new faces will play their first match since May’s Guinness PRO14 Final at Celtic Park.

Johnny Matthews will make his first appearance in a Glasgow Warriors shirt in the front-row, with the Liverpudlian packing down between Oli Kebble – fresh from his recent contract
extension – and Adam Nicol.

Kiran McDonald partners Tim Swinson in the engine room, whilst Adam Ashe is flanked by Tom Gordon and Matt Smith – who will make his first appearance since January following a shoulder
injury.

Behind the scrum, Sean Kennedy and Brandon Thomson will combine as the half-backs, charged with providing the spark for the Warriors back-line.

Scotland 7s co-captain Robbie Fergusson links up with Nick Grigg in the centres, with Glenn Bryce named at full-back and Ratu Tagive joining Robbie Nairn in providing the width.

A mix of youth, experience and new arrivals make up the Glasgow replacements, as Rennie and his coaching staff run the rule over their squad ahead of the new season, which kicks off
three weeks today.

Pat O’Toole, George Thornton and Jamie Dobie are all in line to make their first appearances in a Glasgow shirt, with Lars Morrice also involved having trained with the squad over
the summer.

Scotland 7s players Alec Coombes, Max McFarland and Kyle Rowe are equally poised to make an impact from the bench, alongside Fosroc Scottish Rugby Academy Stage 3 Players Cameron Henderson,
Marshall Sykes, Ollie Smith and Ross Thompson.

The pack replacements are completed by experienced heads in the form of Rob Harley, Chris Fusaro, Alex Allan and D’arcy Rae, with Nick Frisby and Paddy Kelly completing the substitute
backs.

Glasgow Warriors Head Coach, Dave Rennie, said: “The boys are keen to get out there and play.

“We’ve had a lot of guys involved with Rugby World Cup preparation, so we’ve had a lot of boys come in and train with us. They’ve worked really hard and slotted in nicely, so they’ll get their chance tomorrow.

“Ulster will be in the same boat us, I reckon. They’ll have a few faces away and will be trying a few players out with a few young men, so it’s a chance for both sides to have a look at those guys under a bit of pressure.”

Glasgow Warriors team to face Ulster
Saturday 7 September, Kingspan Stadium (kick-off 1.30pm)

1. Oli Kebble
2. Johnny Matthews
3. Adam Nicol
4. Tim Swinson (C)
5. Kiran McDonald
6. Matt Smith
7. Tom Gordon
8. Adam Ashe

9. Sean Kennedy
10. Brandon Thomson
11. Ratu Tagive
12. Robbie Fergusson
13. Nick Grigg
14. Robbie Nairn
15. Glenn Bryce

Replacements
Pat O’Toole, Alex Allan, D’arcy Rae, George Thornton, Rob Harley, Lars Morrice, Cameron Henderson, Marshall Sykes, Chris Fusaro, Nick Frisby, Jamie Dobie, Ross Thompson, Paddy Kelly, Alec Coombes, Kyle Rowe, Max McFarland, Ollie Smith.