McDowall to make European debut for Glasgow Warriors

Pete Horne will play his 150th game for Glasgow Warriors in tomorrow’s 1872 Cup first leg at BT Murrayfield.

It is a big week for Stafford McDowall. The 20-year-old signed his first professional contract on Wednesday and starts his first game in Europe at inside centre tomorrow lunchtime.

Huw Jones comes in to start outside of him having scored with his first touch of the ball off the bench in Glasgow’s 22-42 victory away in France last Saturday.

Tommy Seymour also extended his stay with the club this week and starts alongside Niko Matawalu and Stuart Hogg in the back-three.

Ali Price starts at scrum-half, pulling the strings alongside Adam Hastings.

Co-captain Ryan Wilson returns to the starting line-up. Callum Gibbins and Matt Fagerson join him at the back of the scrum.

George Turner and Siua Halanukonuka made an impact off the bench in Lyon last week, they start alongside Oli Kebble while Tim Swinson joins Jonny Gray behind them.

On the bench, winger Robbie Nairn is also in line to make his European debut.

Meanwhile, it’s been confirmed that Fraser Brown will be sidelined for 8-10 weeks with a knee injury sustained in last Saturday’s win over Lyon.

Glasgow Warriors Head Coach Dave Rennie said: “We got five points away from home against a strong French side, so we are happy with that.

“We weren’t as clinical as we would have liked to have been, but we are working hard driving expectations and putting in a performance that we are really proud of. It was a job well done, but we reckon we have a little bit more in us.

“There is not a hell of a lot between individuals within our squad, so we don’t believe that any changes weaken us.

“When you look at it across the board, we have good players coming in and it gives them an opportunity to make a bit of a statement heading into a couple of local derbies.”

Glasgow Warriors team to play Lyon in the Heineken Champions Cup at Scotstoun Stadium, Saturday 15 December, kick-off 1pm (UK Time) – live on BT Sport. You can follow the game on Twitter @GlasgowWarriors. Glasgow Warriors appearances in brackets:

1. Oli Kebble (20)
2. George Turner (31)
3. Siua Halanukonuka (19)
4. Tim Swinson (115)
5. Jonny Gray (94)
6. Ryan Wilson (CC) (146)
7. Callum Gibbins (CC) (26)
8. Matt Fagerson (35)

9. Ali Price (65)
10. Adam Hastings (18)
11. Niko Matawalu (102)
12. Stafford McDowall (5)
13. Huw Jones (14)
14. Tommy Seymour (122)
15. Stuart Hogg (110)

Replacements

16. Grant Stewart (11)
17. Jamie Bhatti (33)
18. Petrus du Plessis (4)
19. Rob Harley (195)
20. Chris Fusaro (152)
21. Nick Frisby (6)
22. Pete Horne (148)
23. Robbie Nairn (2)

Not available due to injury: Fraser Brown (knee), Zander Fagerson (ankle), Bruce Flockhart (illness), Tom Gordon (illness), Rory Hughes (shoulder), Sam Johnson (knee), Lee Jones (knee), Lelia Masaga (calf), Kiran McDonald (calf), Matt Smith (shoulder) and Tevita Tameilau (ankle).