Jamie Ritchie to make Glasgow Warriors debut

Former Edinburgh stalwart Jamie Ritchie will make his Glasgow Warriors debut this weekend after being named at blindside flanker for Saturday’s URC clash with Benetton in Treviso.

Ritchie made 133 appearances for Warriors’ arch Scottish rivals before heading to France in 2025.

The Scotland international and ex-Test skipper is one of five changes to the side that claimed a bonus-point victory over Sale Sharks in the Investec Champions Cup, with head coach Franco Smith handing the summer signing from Perpignan his first appearance in Glasgow colours.

The thirty-year-old’s inclusion sees Euan Ferrie switch to No.8. Current Scotland back-row Rory Darge completes the back row.

There is also a first start for young fly-half Matthew Urwin. The former Scotland U20 playmaker will wear the No.10 jersey for the first time since signing his maiden professional contract with the club over the summer.

British & Irish Lions prop Rory Sutherland is set for his first outing of the season after recovering from a calf injury, joining Seb Stephen and Zander Fagerson in the front row. In the engine room, Max Williamson returns to partner Scott Cummings and will mark his 50th appearance for the club.

Jamie Dobie moves infield from the wing to start at scrum-half alongside Urwin, while Sione Tuipulotu and Stafford McDowall continue their established midfield partnership. Ollie Smith comes into the side after his try-scoring contribution off the bench against Sale, joining Kyle Steyn and Kyle Rowe in the back three.

Gregor Hiddleston returns to the matchday 23 after missing last week’s fixture through injury, while Alex Craig is among the replacements just days after agreeing a new deal with the club.

With the inclusion of Ritchie, that’s a total of four current or former Scotland captains in the Glasgow line-up (McDowall, Tuipulotu and Darge).

Glasgow Warriors: 15 Kyle Rowe, 14 Kyle Steyn (captain), 13 Stafford McDowall, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Ollie Smith, 10 Matthew Urwin, 9 Jamie Dobie; 1 Rory Sutherland, 2 Seb Stephen, 3 Zander Fagerson, 4 Max Williamson, 5 Scott Cummings, 6 Jamie Ritchie, 7 Rory Darge, 8 Euan Ferrie.

Replacements: 16 Gregor Hiddleston, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Murphy Walker, 19 Alex Craig, 20 Jare Oguntibeju, 21 Gregor Brown, 22 Callum Reidy, 23 Bayley Kuenzle.