Scotland duo ruled fit for Glasgow Warriors while Leinster rotate to open door to Connacht

The final round of the United Rugby Championship regular season kicks off with two games on Friday night as Glasgow host Zebre Parma and Leinster face Connacht.

Check on the team news for both games, below.

Glasgow Warriors v Zebre Parma

Glasgow Warriors have received a timely boost as Scotland stars Richie Gray (lock) and Huw Jones (centre) have been ruled fit for the clash with Zebre Parma at Scotstoun.

The duo have both been sidelined after sustaining injuries while on duty for Scotland during the Six Nations but are one of 14 internationals selected in the Warriors’ starting XV.

Meanwhile, Duncan Weir will become only the 14th player in the professional history of Glasgow Warriors to play 150 matches for the club.

Props Jamie Bhatti and Zander Fagerson both come into the line-up after starting on the bench in Johannesburg against the Lions last time out, with the URC’s top try-scorer packing down between them in the form of Johnny Matthews at hooker.

Gray makes his first appearance in Glasgow colours since picking up a bicep injury in Scotland’s win over Wales back in February, joining Max Williamson in the engine room.

Rory Darge retains his place at openside, as Matt Fagerson and Jack Dempsey are promoted from the replacements bench in an all-international back-row triumvirate.

Weir starts in the number 10 jersey in the week it was announced that the fly-half had extended his contract with his boyhood club, partnering Jamie Dobie in the half-backs.

Sione Tuipulotu captains the side from inside centre, as he pairs up with the returning Jones in the midfield for the first time since January’s victory over Toulon at Scotstoun.

A brace of Argentinians come into the back-three, as Kyle Rowe shifts to full-back to accommodate the flying pairing of Sebastian Cancelliere and Facundo Cordero.

Gregor Hiddleston makes a return to the matchday 23 after missing the South African double-header due to injury, as the former Dumfries Saint joins Nathan McBeth and Oli Kebble as the front-row cover for Friday’s clash.

Scott Cummings wears the number 19 jersey, whilst Euan Ferrie covers the back-row after crossing for his first try in Glasgow colours against the Lions last time out.

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The Glasgow bench features three backs as George Horne joins Ross Thompson and Tom Jordan amongst the replacements waiting for their opportunity under the Friday night lights.

Meanwhile, Zebre Parma head coach Fabio Roselli has named his side for this encounter at Scotstoun.

Jacopo Trulla gets the nod at full-back and is joined in the back three by wings Pierre Bruno and Simone Gesi while captain Luca Morisi and Damiano Mazza form the centre combination.

The backline is completed by Giovanni Montemauri and Alessandro Fusco who are the starting half-backs.

In the forwards, Davide Ruggeri is the starting number eight and he forms a back-row combination with flankers Bautista Stavile and Giacomo Ferrari while Leonard Krumov and Matteo Canali will do duty in the engine room.

Giampietro Ribaldi packs down at hooker while Danilo Fischetti and Muhamed Hasa are alongside him in the front-row as the starting props.

The teams

Glasgow Warriors: 15 Kyle Rowe, 14 Facundo Cordero, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu (c), 11 Sebastian Cancelliere, 10 Duncan Weir, 9 Jamie Dobie, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Matt Fagerson, 5 Richie Gray, 4 Max Williamson, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Johnny Matthews, 1 Jamie Bhatti
Replacements: 16 Gregor Hiddleston, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Oli Kebble, 19 Scott Cummings, 20 Euan Ferrie, 21 George Horne, 22 Ross Thompson, 23 Tom Jordan

Zebre: 15 Jacopo Trulla, 14 Pierre Bruno, 13 Luca Morisi (c), 12 Damiano Mazza, 11 Simone Gesi, 10 Giovanni Montemauri, 9 Alessandro Fusco, 8 Davide Ruggeri, 7 Bautista Stavile, 6 Giacomo Ferrari, 5 Leonard Krumov, 4 Matteo Canali, 3 Muhamed Hasa, 2 Giampietro Ribaldi, 1 Danilo Fischetti
Replacements: 16 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, 17 Alessio Sanavia, 18 Riccardo Genovese, 19 David Sisi, 20 Taina Fox-Matamua, 21 Ratko Jelic, 22 Tiff Eden, 23 Fetuli Paea

Venue: Scotstoun Stadium
Kick-off: 19:35 BST
Referee: Peter Martin (IRFU)
Assistant Referees: Hollie Davidson (SRU), Michael Todd (SRU)
TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)

Leinster v Connacht

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has named a much-changed side to take on Connacht in Round 18 of the United Rugby Championship at the RDS Arena on Friday.

Scott Penny captains the team, while after announcing his retirement earlier this week, Rhys Ruddock is set to make his 229th appearance in blue.

Jimmy O’Brien starts at full-back, with the fit again Tommy O’Brien and Rob Russell named on the wing.

After starring last weekend in the Investec Champions Cup final, Jamie Osborne and Ciarán Frawley are named in the midfield. Sam Prendergast and Cormac Foley partner each other for the first time at home this season, in the half-backs.

In the pack, experienced loosehead prop Ed Byrne is joined in the front-row by Rónan Kelleher (hooker) and Thomas Clarkson (tighthead). Ross Molony and Brian Deeny form the heart of the pack, with Ruddock joining Penny and Jack Conan in the back-row.

Dan Sheehan, Michael Ala’alatoa and Ryan Baird are all named among the replacements, after featuring last Saturday against Toulouse.

Meanwhile, Shane Mallon, Dave Heffernan and Santiago Cordero will each make milestone appearances for Connacht in this interpro derby.

Ballina man Heffernan will make his 200th appearance for the club, coming 12 years after he first made his debut for his home province. He becomes just the eighth Connacht player to reach the milestone.

Academy back three player Shane Mallon has been handed a debut for his home province, with the Leitrim man named on the left wing, while Santiago Cordero makes his first Connacht start at full-back.

The front-row of Peter Dooley, Dave Heffernan and Finlay Bealham is unchanged, while Niall Murray comes into the second-row to partner Joe Joyce. In the back-row Cian Prendergast and Sean Jansen are retained, with Conor Oliver named at openside flanker.

Caolin Blade and captain Jack Carty start, while there’s a centre partnership of Cathal Forde and David Hawkshaw. Shane Jennings completes the side on the right wing.

The teams

Leinster: 15 Jimmy O’Brien, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Jamie Osborne, 12 Ciarán Frawley, 11 Rob Russell, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Cormac Foley, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Scott Penny (c), 6 Rhys Ruddock, 5 Brian Deeny, 4 Ross Molony, 3 Thomas Clarkson, 2 Rónan Kelleher, 1 Ed Byrne
Replacements: 16 Dan Sheehan, 17 Michael Milne, 18 Michael Ala’alatoa, 19 Ryan Baird, 20 Max Deegan, 21 Luke McGrath, 22 Harry Byrne, 23 Charlie Ngatai

Connacht: 15 Santiago Cordero, 14 Shane Jennings, 13 David Hawkshaw, 12 Cathal Forde, 11 Shane Mallon, 10 Jack Carty (c), 9 Caolin Blade, 8 Sean Jansen, 7 Conor Oliver, 6 Cian Prendergast, 5 Niall Murray, 4 Joe Joyce, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Dave Heffernan, 1 Peter Dooley
Replacements: 16 Dylan Tierney-Martin, 17 Denis Buckley, 18 Jack Aungier, 19 Darragh Murray, 20 Seán O’Brien, 21 Colm Reilly, 22 Byron Ralston, 23 Tom Daly

Venue: RDS Arena
Kick-off: 19:35 BST
Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU)
Assistant Referees: Eoghan Cross (IRFU), Jonathan Erskine (IRFU)
TMO: Colin Stanley (IRFU)

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