Samuel and Ferrie in line for Glasgow Warriors debuts

Scotland U20 standouts Alex Samuel and Euan Ferrie are both in line for their Glasgow Warriors debuts this weekend, after both were named in the matchday 23 for tomorrow night’s BKT United Rugby Championship clash with Benetton at Scotstoun.

It will be Samuel’s first-ever competitive appearance in Glasgow colours, the second-rower having put pen to paper on a first professional contract with the Warriors over the summer.

Scotland age-grade team-mate Ferrie will also make his first appearance for the Warriors if he comes off the bench tomorrow night, with the man from East Kilbride in his second season as part of the FOSROC Scottish Rugby Academy at Scotstoun.

Head Coach Franco Smith names a starting XV showing 11 changes from the club’s most recent outing, as the Warriors look to finish the first block of 2022/23 fixtures on the front foot against their Scottish-Italian Shield rivals.

An all-new front-row combination sees Murphy Walker return from Scotland camp to make his first start of the season at tight-head, joining Oli Kebble and Fraser Brown at the coal-face.

Sintu Manjezi is one of four players to retain their places from the meeting with the Cell C Sharks in Durban, the South African packing down alongside debutant Samuel in the second-row.

Sione Vailanu will make his first appearance at Scotstoun after making his debut off the bench in Durban last time out, with Ryan Wilson shifting to the blindside to accommodate the Tongan in a back-row completed by Gregor Brown.

Behind the scrum, a new half-back combination sees both Jamie Dobie and Domingo Miotti make their first starts of the 2022/23 season, the former appearing in a Glasgow Warriors matchday squad for the first time since a hamstring injury sustained during his summer loan spell at Bay of Plenty.

A brace of returnees from Scotland camp will combine in the midfield, as Stafford McDowall lines up inside club captain Kyle Steyn in the centres.

Josh McKay is the only back to retain his place from the club’s most recent outing, with the full-back joined by Sebastian Cancelliere and Rufus McLean in the back-three.

Smith and his coaching team once again elect for a six-two split of forwards and backs on the bench, with Ferrie covering the back-row in his first outing in professional rugby.

Glasgow Warriors team to face Benetton at Scotstoun Stadium, Friday 28 october, kick-off 7.35pm. 

1. Oli Kebble (81)
2. Fraser Brown (127)
3. Murphy Walker (7)
4. Sintu Manjezi (5)
5. Alex Samuel (0)
6. Ryan Wilson (216)
7. Gregor Brown (8)
8. Sione Vailanu (1)

9. Jamie Dobie (36)
10. Domingo Miotti (9)
11. Rufus McLean (22)
12. Stafford McDowall (39)
13. Kyle Steyn (C) (51)
14. Sebastian Cancelliere (13)
15. Josh McKay (17)

Replacements

16. Johnny Matthews (31)
17. Nathan McBeth (6)
18. Simon Berghan (14)
19. JP du Preez (4)
20. Lewis Bean (19)
21. Euan Ferrie (0)
22. Sean Kennedy (20)
23. Tom Jordan (5)

Unavailable for selection:  Allan Dell (calf), Rory Darge (ankle), Thomas Gordon (calf), Sam Johnson (jaw), Huw Jones (back), Ally Miller (back), Enrique Pieretto (shoulder), Lucio Sordoni (head)

International duty: Jamie Bhatti, Scott Cummings, Jack Dempsey, Matt Fagerson, Zander Fagerson, Richie Gray, George Horne, Ali Price, Ollie Smith, Ross Thompson, Sione Tuipulotu, George Turner.