Squad Update

After a week’s break, Glasgow Warriors have today returned to Scotstoun to kick-off block two of pre-season training ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

Head Coach Franco Smith now joins the club on a full-time basis having concluded his notice period with the Italian Rugby Federation, joining Assistant Coaches Nigel Carolan, Pete Murchie, Pete Horne and Al Dickinson in overseeing training at Scotstoun.

Don’t miss Glasgow Warriors back in action in Inverness on Friday 2 September, 7.30pm ?

Be quick! Get your tickets ? Worcester Warriors for the first of our pre-season fixtures for the 2022/23 campaign!

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— Glasgow Warriors (@GlasgowWarriors) August 14, 2022

A total of 66 players, inclusive of the 2022/23 senior academy intake and players on short-term deals with the club, have reported to Scotstoun for the start of block two.

The group also includes the majority of the club’s players who represented their respective countries over the course of the 2022 summer Test window, including 14 players who toured South America with Scotland.

Props: Simon Berghan, Jamie Bhatti, Allan Dell, Zander Fagerson, Oli Kebble, Nathan McBeth, Lucio Sordoni*, Murphy Walker.

Hookers: Fraser Brown, Angus Fraser, Johnny Matthews, George Turner.

Second-rowers: Lewis Bean, Scott Cummings, JP du Preez, Richie Gray, Sintu Manjezi, Alex Samuel, Max Williamson.

Back-rowers: Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey, Matt Fagerson, Thomas Gordon, Sione Vailanu, Ryan Wilson.

Scrum-halves: George Horne, Cam Jones*, Sean Kennedy, Ali Price.

Fly-halves: Joel Hodgson*, Will Hunt*, Domingo Miotti, Duncan Weir.

Centres: Sam Johnson, Tom Jordan, Stafford McDowall, Sione Tuipulotu.

Back-three: Sebastian Cancelliere, Walter Fifita, Cole Forbes, Josh McKay, Rufus McLean, Ollie Smith, Kyle Steyn, Logan Trotter*.

Academy: Ben Afshar, Tom Banatvala, Finlay Burgess, Jamie Drummond, Euan Ferrie, Logan Jarvie, Ross McKnight, Harris McLeod, Duncan Munn, Callum Norrie, Ben Salmon, Archie Smeaton, Andy Stirrat, Rhys Tait, Christian Townsend.

*denotes short-term contract

The club can also provide an injury update ahead of the second block of pre-season:

Josh McKay has re-joined the training group after successfully recovering from ankle surgery.

Duncan Weir has also re-joined the training group, having recovered from a soft tissue injury to his calf earlier in pre-season.

Alex Samuel has recovered from off-season hand surgery, and has re-joined the training group ahead for block two.

Gregor Brown is nearing full recovery from the soft tissue injury to his groin, and is expected to return to full training early in block two.

Huw Jones is continuing his recovery from the back injury sustained in Harlequins’ Premiership semi-final defeat at the end of the 2021/22 season, and is targeting a return to action during the first block of United Rugby Championship fixtures.

Similarly, Ally Miller is continuing his recovery from off-season back surgery and is expected to return during the first few weeks of the URC season.

Ross Thompson has undergone minor back surgery, performed by Mr Andrew Renwick at Ross Hall Hospital. The fly half is expected to return during the early rounds of the URC.

Ollie Smith is currently managing a back injury, and is also expected to return during the early rounds of the URC.

Finally, Enrique Pieretto has returned to the care of the Glasgow Warriors medical team after undergoing surgery on a shoulder injury sustained while representing Argentina XV, with the tight-head expected to return towards the end of October.