ZANDER Fagerson and Tom Gordon have both been ruled out of Glasgow’s game against Connacht tomorrow because of Covid protocols, according to a statement from the Warriors. Five other players are listed as unavailable because of injury, for the opening PRO14 match of the new season.
“Zander Fagerson and Tom Gordon are unavailable for selection for the upcoming game in order to comply with the necessary Scottish Government Covid-19 isolation protocols and to protect the medical integrity of the wider squad,” Glasgow stated in a press release to announce their team for the game at the Sportsground in Galway. Further details about Fagerson and Gordon are expected later today.
The unavailability of Fagerson sees D’Arcy Rae start at tighthead prop, with Enrique Pieretto as the replacement. Zander’s younger brother Matt Fagerson is in the back row alongside Ryan Wilson and Chris Fusaro, with new signing Fotu Lokotui on the bench. Rob Harley keeps his place at lock ahead of Richie Gray, who is also among the substitutes.
In the back division, Huw Jones continues at full-back and Stafford McDowall starts in his preferred position of inside centre. The players listed as unavailable are Sam Johnson, Lee Jones, Sean Kennedy, Kiran McDonald and Kyle Steyn.
In all head coach Danny Wilson has made four changes from the team that began the last outing of the 2019-20 season, the 15-3 win against Edinburgh. Robbie Nairn takes over on the wing from Ratu Tagive, Ali Price is preferred to George Horne at scrum-half, and Rae and Fusaro come in for Fagerson senior and Gordon.
Stafford McDowall sets his sights on regular start with Glasgow
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Glasgow Warriors (v Connacht at The Sportsground, tomorrow 5.15pm): H Jones; T Seymour, N Grigg, S McDowall, R Nairn; A Hastings, A Price; O Kebble, F Brown (captain), D Rae, R Harley, S Cummings, R Wilson, C Fusaro, M Fagerson. Substitutes: G Turner, A Seiuli, E Pieretto, R Gray, F Lokotui, G Horne, P Horne, R Tagive.
Connacht: J Porch; P Sullivan, T Farrell, B Aki, A Wootton; J Carty, K Marmion; D Buckley, D Heffernan, F Bealham, G Thornbury, Q Roux, J Butler (captain), C Oliver, P Boyle. Substitutes: J Murphy, J Duggan, J Aungier, N Murray, S Masterson, C Blade, C Fitzgerald, S Arnold.
Referee: C Evans (Wales).
Stafford McDowall sets his sights on regular start with Glasgow
