Marquee signing to face Benetton after recovering from injury
Jamie Ritchie will make his Glasgow Warriors debut against Benetton away on Saturday after recovering from the Achilles tendon injury which caused him to miss the start of the season.
The experienced Scotland back-rower was the club’s marquee summer signing, joining from Perpignan.
Ritchie, who spent over a decade with Edinburgh, has been selected at blindside flanker for the United Rugby Championship match in Treviso.
“We look forward to seeing Jamie in a Glasgow Warriors shirt for the first time,” said Franco Smith, Glasgow's head coach. “He has worked hard to earn the opportunity and will give his all for his team-mates.”
Ritchie’s inclusion sees Euan Ferrie shift to No 8, with Ruwald van der Merwe dropping out from the side that beat Sale in the Champions Cup.
Return of Rory Sutherland
There’s also a first Glasgow start for Matthew Urwin, the former Scotland Under-20 fly-half, who replaces Dan Lancaster at 10. Urwin, 21, signed his first professional contract with the club over the summer.
Prop Rory Sutherland has recovered from a calf injury and will make his first appearance of the campaign and Max Williamson comes into the starting XV for his 50th Glasgow appearance, replacing the benched Alex Craig in the second row.
Jamie Dobie moves from wing to scrum-half, with George Horne not involved this weekend. Ollie Smith starts on the left wing.
Hooker Gregor Hiddleston returns to the matchday 23 after pulling out of last weekend’s match due to injury and joins Nathan McBeth and Murphy Walker as front-row cover on the bench.
Benetton v Glasgow Warriors line-ups
BKT United Rugby Championship round 4, Stadio Monigo, Treviso, Saturday, 3pm BST.
Benetton: Rhyno Smith; Louis Lynagh, Federico Zanandrea, Leonardo Marin, Matt Gallagher; Jacob Umaga, Alessandro Garbisi; Matias Medrano, Bautista Bernasconi, Simone Ferrari, Niccolò Cannone, Mattia Midena, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Michele Lamaro (capt), Lorenzo Cannone. Replacements: Siua Maile, Mirco Spagnolo, Marcos Gallorini, Piero Gritti, Antony Miranda, Manuel Zuliani, Louis Werchon, Paolo Odogwu.
Glasgow Warriors: Kyle Rowe; Kyle Steyn (capt), Stafford McDowall, Sione Tuipulotu, Ollie Smith; Matthew Urwin, Jamie Dobie; Rory Sutherland, Seb Stephen, Zander Fagerson, Max Williamson, Scott Cummings, Jamie Ritchie, Rory Darge, Euan Ferrie. Replacements: Gregor Hiddleston, Nathan McBeth, Murphy Walker, Alex Craig, Jare Oguntibeju, Gregor Brown, Callum Reidy, Bayley Kuenzle.
Referee: Griffin Colby (SARU).
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