Four changes for home Celtic Challenge debut

• 12 Jan 2024

Glasgow Warriors Head Coach Chris Laidlaw has made four alterations to the starting XV that will run out for tomorrow afternoon’s Celtic Challenge clash with the Wolfhounds at Scotstoun, in what marks the team’s first-ever home fixture.

The lineup includes a potential Glasgow Warriors debutant in the form of Phaedra Snailham, the Stewartry Siren set to run out for Laidlaw’s squad for the first time in front of the Warrior Nation.

Up front, Ailie Tucker continues at loose-head after notching three tries in the club’s opening two fixtures, with Nikki Simpson and Eilidh Fleming retaining their places in the front-row.

Emma Turner and Ellie Williamson continue their partnership in the second-row, the former set to become the first female Glasgow Warrior to lead out her team at Scotstoun.

Louise McMillan starts at blindside after an agreed release from her Premiership Women’s Rugby club, Saracens, for the round three fixture, joining Lucy Winter and Alex Love in an otherwise unchanged back-row.

Mairi McDonald and Ceitidh Ainsworth continue their partnership in the half-backs, having dove-tailed for the first time in last weekend’s meeting with the Gwalia Lightning.

Similarly, the centre pairing of Lucy MacRae and Claudia McLaren is retained for the third successive fixture, the former having converted three of the club’s five tries in the competition to date.

Snailham comes into the starting lineup on the wing in place of Pearl Kellie, with Carla McDonald starting at full-back in a back-three completed by Stirling County flyer Sky Phimister.

The Warriors opt for a six-two split of forwards and backs on the bench for the first time in the competition, as Kaylee Fraser returns to the matchday 23 after missing the trip to Cardiff last weekend to join Karis Craig and Chloe Brown as the front-row cover.

Sophie Anderson and Izzy Hannay continue amongst the replacements after making an impact off the bench last time out, whilst Holland Bogan rotates to the bench to accommodate McMillan’s inclusion in the back-row.

Club co-captain Rhea Clarke wears the number 22 jersey as she awaits her opportunity in front of the Warrior Nation, with Heriot’s Blues centre Giselle Chicot completing the matchday 23.

Speaking following selection, Head Coach Laidlaw told glasgowwarriors.org: “As a group, we’re excited about the opportunity to play our first ever home game at Scotstoun.

“We were happy with the progress last week in certain parts of our game; however, we know that will need to improve even more this week along with other parts of our game to be competitive against a strong and experienced Wolfhounds team who come off the back of two positive results.

“We’ve remained fairly consistent with selection this week, as we welcome back Louise McMillan to the team this week and also a well-earned debut for the Warriors for Phaedra Snailham.

“With this being the last game in this block, we are looking to continue our progress as a squad and take some momentum from this game into the rest of the competition.”

Glasgow Warriors team to face Wolfhounds at Scotstoun, Saturday 13 January, kick-off 2.30pm. Tickets are still available at glasgowwarriors.org

1 Ailie Tucker
2 Nikki Simpson
3 Eilidh Fleming
4 Emma Turner (CC)
5 Ellie Williamson
6 Louise McMillan
7 Lucy Winter
8 Alex Love

9 Mairi McDonald
10 Ceitidh Ainsworth
11 Phaedra Snailham
12 Lucy MacRae
13 Claudia McLaren
14 Sky Phimister
15 Carla McDonald

Replacements

16 Karis Craig
17 Kaylee Fraser
18 Chloe Brown
19 Sophie Anderson
20 Izzy Hannay
21 Holland Bogan
22 Rhea Clarke (CC)
23 Giselle Chicot