Mark your cards four fixtures not to be missed
10 Aug 2022“We want to make Scotstoun a fortress. This is the Warrior Nation’s team, and our responsibility through the coaches and players is to represent them.”
With just over a month until the opening round of the 2022/23 United Rugby Championship, it’s not just Head Coach Franco Smith who’s excited about the impending return of rugby to Scotstoun.
As Friday night lights make their return and with a playing group bolstered by high-quality new signings and young Scottish talents eager to make their mark, here are four home fixtures you won’t want to miss over the course of the 2022/23 season…
Round Two | Cardiff Rugby
Friday 23 September, kick-off 7.35pm
By the time kick-off rolls around for Glasgow’s opening home match of the new campaign, it will be almost six months since the club last took to the field in front of the Warrior Nation – a spell that’s been far too long for anyone’s liking.
In addition to the fixture marking Smith’s first home fixture in charge of the Warriors, the Warrior Nation could see new signings such as Sintu Manjezi, JP du Preez, Sione Vailanu and Allan Dell make their competitive home debuts in the fixture, with competition for places set to be intense across the course of the campaign.
It’ll also be Cardiff’s first visit north since October 2019, when the Warriors edged to a narrow 17-13 victory at Scotstoun in a scoreline that belied the free-flowing rugby on show from both sides.
Round 10 | Edinburgh
Friday 23 December, kick-off 7.35pm
Christmas dinner. Hogmanay celebrations. The 1872 Cup derbies. Unmissable moments of the festive season.
The annual inter-city series between Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh returns to the traditional spot in the calendar for 2022/23, as the Warriors welcome their cross-country rivals to Scotstoun for what promises to be a firecracker of an encounter on 23 December.
With Edinburgh having taken both the 1872 Cup and Scottish-Italian Shield in the final regular-season match of last season, there will be added motivation for Smith’s men to settle the score – not that any additional motivation is ever required to take on the men from the capital.
Round 12 | DHL Stormers
Sunday 8 January, kick-off 3pm
The defending champions will be Glasgow’s first-footers in 2023, as the DHL Stormers make their inaugural visit to Scotstoun at the start of January.
Having showcased their swashbuckling style of rugby en route to claiming the first-ever URC title last season, the Warrior Nation can expect more of the same from John Dobson’s side when the two sides meet again.
A squad packed with South African internationals could be making the journey north, including current Springbok stars Steven Kitshoff, Frans Malherbe and Damian Willemse, in addition to the 2021/22 URC Player of the Season, Evan Roos.
Round 18 | Connacht
Saturday 22 April, kick-off 7.35pm
Not since the concluding round of the 2018/19 season have the Warriors had the chance to finish the regular season in front of the Warrior Nation – something that could make all the difference in what’s sure to be a highly-competitive end to the campaign.
Smith and his charges will be hoping to have put themselves in a strong position ahead of the final round of fixtures, with the destination of the Scottish-Italian Shield and playoff seedings likely to go down to the wire once more.
Matches between the Warriors and Connacht tend to be high-scoring affairs, making it one that’s sure to close out the regular season in style.
