Dobie to captain Glasgow Warriors in pre-season opener

• 29 Sep 2023

Glasgow Warriors Head Coach Franco Smith has named a 26-strong squad for tomorrow night’s The Famous Grouse Pre-Season Friendly, as the club opens its pre-season account by welcoming Zebre Parma to Scotstoun.

Jamie Dobie will lead out a squad containing an exciting blend of youth and experience, with seven full internationals lining up alongside six of the club’s academy prospects in the matchday squad.

Nathan McBeth is named at loose-head prop, the 2022/23 Mackenzie Construction Most Improved Player of the Season joining Angus Fraser and Lucio Sordoni in the front-row.

Former Scotland U20 team-mates Alex Samuel and Euan Ferrie are paired together in the second-row, the duo having made their professional debuts together in last November’s home victory over Benetton.

Henco Venter packs down at number eight as he prepares for his first experience of a Scotstoun matchday in a Glasgow shirt, linking up with Ally Miller and Gregor Brown in a dynamic back-row trio.

Ross Thompson lines up alongside captain Dobie in the half-backs, as the fly-half prepares for his first appearance at Scotstoun since suffering an injury against Leinster in November 2022.

Tom Jordan starts at inside centre, whilst Loch Lomond RFC product Duncan Munn is named at outside centre after impressing for Boroughmuir Bears and Glasgow Warriors A last season.

Kyle Rowe and Facundo Cordero also make their first appearances at Scotstoun after being selected in the back-three, with last season’s Denholm Energy Services Players’ Player of the Season, Sebastian Cancelliere, completing the starting XV.

An extended replacements bench sees three FOSROC Super Series standouts given an opportunity with Franco Smith’s men, as Ayrshire Bulls duo Luca Bardelli and Ollie Horne and Boroughmuir Bears hooker Corey Tait are selected on the bench.

Academy props Tom Banatvala and Callum Norrie are given their first opportunity in a Glasgow shirt after impressing for the FOSROC Future XV in the 2023 FOSROC Super Series, as are fellow academy forwards Ruaraidh Hart and Jonny Morris.

Two further academy talents are presented with their chance from the bench, as Ben Salmon – having impressed for Glasgow Warriors A last year – and Kerr Johnston are named amongst the outside backs.

Ben Afshar covers scrum-half after co-captaining Scotland U20 earlier this summer, whilst Duncan Weir contributes all 133 appearances amongst the replacements by covering fly-half.

Speaking following selection, Head Coach Smith told glasgowwarriors.org: “Tomorrow sees us take the next step in our pre-season preparations, as we take on a Zebre Parma team that will test us across the field.

“The players have worked hard since returning to Scotstoun, and everyone is looking forward to getting back out there.

“We’re also pleased to give an opportunity to some of our academy players, who have earned their opportunity with their efforts in pre-season so far; the growth of our squad and Scottish rugby overall is a priority for us, so we’re excited to give these young players their chance.”

Glasgow Warriors team to play Zebre Parma in The Famous Grouse Pre-Season Challenge at Scotstoun, Saturday 30 September, kick-off 6pm. Tickets are still available at glasgowwarriors.org.

1 Nathan McBeth
2 Angus Fraser
3 Lucio Sordoni
4 Alex Samuel
5 Euan Ferrie
6 Gregor Brown
7 Ally Miller
8 Henco Venter

9 Jamie Dobie (C)
10 Ross Thompson
11 Kyle Rowe
12 Tom Jordan
13 Duncan Munn
14 Sebastian Cancelliere
15 Facundo Cordero

Replacements

16 Corey Tait
17 Tom Banatvala
18 Callum Norrie
19 Ruaraidh Hart
20 Jonny Morris
21 Ben Afshar
22 Duncan Weir
23 Ben Salmon
24 Kerr Johnston
25 Luca Bardelli
26 Ollie Horne