Franco Smith has named his Glasgow Warriors squad to face Connacht in The Famous Grouse pre-season friendly.

The Warriors will play their final pre-season match on Saturday night ahead of their opening BKT United Rugby Championship title defence.

Seven players will play their first match in pre-season in Glasgow colours in the warm-up match.

International duo Rory Sutherland and Adam Hastings, both summer signings for Franco Smith's side, will play in the pre-season friendly, while fellow Scotland caps Richie Gray, Jack Dempsey, Kyle Rowe, Jamie Dobie and captain Stafford McDowall all return having missed last weekend's 31-0 loss to Zebre.

Patrick Schickerling will experience Scotstoun as a Warrior for the first time since joining the club from Exeter Chiefs.

Head Coach Franco Smith told glasgowwarriors.org: “We’re excited to return home to run out in front of our supporters tomorrow evening, as we continue to build towards the start of the new campaign.

“Tomorrow represents another opportunity for some of our young prospects to experience top-level rugby, as well as presenting us with a chance to gradually bring our established professionals back into the fold.

“We look forward to the challenge Connacht will bring and we look forward to running out in front of the Warrior Nation tomorrow night.”


Read more: 


Connacht, meanwhile, have New Zealander Josh Ioane involved for the first time since his summer move to Galway. 

His introduction is one of seven changes from their win over Sale Sharks last weekend, while former Edinburgh hooker Adam McBurney is among the replacements. 

Glasgow Warriors:  Josh McKay, Jamie Dobie, Stafford McDowall (captain), Tom Jordan, Kyle Rowe, Adam Hastings, Ben Afshar; Rory Sutherland, Angus Fraser, Patrick Schickerling, Jare Oguntibeju, Richie Gray, Euan Ferrie, Henco Venter, Jack Dempsey

Replacements: Grant Stewart, Nathan McBeth, Fin Richardson, Max Williamson, Gregor Brown, Sean Kennedy, Duncan Weir, Duncan Munn, Joe Roberts, Jamie Bhatti, Macenzzie Duncan, Jack Mann, Ben Salmon, Logan Trotter, Sebastian Cancelliere.

Connacht: Piers O’Conor, Shayne Bolton, David Hawkshaw, Cathal Forde, Shane Jennings, Josh Ioane, Matthew Devine; Denis Buckley, Dylan Tierney-Martin, Jack Aungier, Joe Joyce (captain), Darragh Murray, David O’Connor, Conor Oliver, Paul Boyle 

Replacements: Adam McBurney, Jordan Duggan, Sam Illo, Niall Murray, OisĂ­n Dowling, OisĂ­n McCormack, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Ben Murphy, Jack Carty, John Porch, Finn Treacy, Mack Hansen.Â