Eight internationals return for Champions Cup opener

Glasgow Warriors Head Coach Danny Wilson welcomes eight returning Scotland stars back into the fold this weekend, as his team prepares to take on defending European champions Exeter in round one of the 2020/21 Heineken Champions Cup.

There are
nine changes in total to the starting XV that took to the field against the
Dragons last Saturday, in a side captained by Ryan Wilson from the blindside
flank.

An all-new
front row sees Oli Kebble and Zander Fagerson return as the props, with George
Turner – a try scorer at Sandy Park last season – packing down at hooker.

Fresh from
playing in every match of Scotland’s Autumn Nations Cup campaign, Scott
Cummings returns to the Warriors to partner Rob Harley in the second row.

Captain
Wilson is joined in the back row by another returning Scotland cap in the form
of Matt Fagerson, Tom Gordon having shaken off a knock to complete the trio.

Pete Horne
continues at fly-half for the seventh consecutive match, as Ali Price lines up at
scrum-half to partner the club centurion.

The midfield
sees Sam Johnson start at inside centre for the first time since the visit of
Leinster at the start of November, with Nick Grigg making it an all-Scotland
centre partnership.

Glenn Bryce
and Lee Jones retain their places in the back three, as Tommy Seymour’s
inclusion on the wing completes the starting lineup.

The bench
sees Huw Jones handed the 23 jersey, having made a match-winning intervention against
Cardiff Blues on his last outing for the club.

Fellow
Scotland cap Grant Stewart is amongst the front row cover, alongside Aki Seiuli
and Enrique Pieretto – the latter in line to make his European debut for
Glasgow against the team from which he joined the club.

There could
also be a first European appearance in Glasgow colours for TJ Ioane, with Kiran
McDonald completing the pack replacements.

Brandon
Thomson and Sean Kennedy join Jones as the cover behind the scrum, Kennedy
having crossed for his first Glasgow try against the Dragons.

Speaking
ahead of the match, Wilson told glasgowwarriors.org: “There has been
excitement in the camp ahead of taking on the European Champions Exeter.

“At the
start of the week our internationals returned to us and it’s been great to have
them back in the squad.

“Exeter
are the in-form side in Europe who have a great balance of power, pace and an
effective kicking game.

“Our
focus this week has been on bringing the two squads together and the boys have
worked hard and trained really well.

“We
look forward to the exciting challenge that Sunday’s game will bring.”

Glasgow
Warriors team to face Exeter in the Heineken Champions Cup, Sunday 13 December,
kick-off 3.15pm, live on BT Sport 2. You can follow the action in our Live
Match Centre at glasgowwarriors.org.

1. Oli
Kebble (51)
2. George Turner (53)
3. Zander Fagerson (94)
4. Rob Harley (239)
5. Scott Cummings (72)
6. Ryan Wilson (C) (178)
7. Tom Gordon (25)
8. Matt Fagerson (65)

9. Ali Price
(90)
10. Pete Horne (178)
11. Lee Jones (84)
12. Sam Johnson (64)
13. Nick Grigg (78)
14. Tommy Seymour (149)
15. Glenn Bryce (32)

Replacements

16. Grant
Stewart (39)
17. Aki Seiuli (19)
18. Enrique Pieretto (7)
19. Kiran McDonald (29)
20. TJ Ioane (6)
21. Sean Kennedy (12)
22. Brandon Thomson (29)
23. Huw Jones (42)

Unavailable
due to injury: Alex
Allan, Fraser Brown, Richie Gray, Adam Hastings, George Horne, Stafford
McDowall, Leone Nakarawa, Kyle Steyn.