Glasgow Warriors’ Season Preview

It’s been just a few weeks since Scotland’s victory over Uruguay, but the modern rugby calendar is relentless and Glasgow Warriors’ pre-season has already begun.

It’s set to be another strong season for the Warriors who look to continue where they left off as Champions of the URC. While retaining the title will be the main goal, progressing further in Europe will also be something they will be aiming for. 

The squad itself has had a fair few changes with some key positions going through major changes. I’ll be going through the Ins and Outs as well as discussing changes in the key positions that people should keep an eye on. 

IN

Rory Sutherland 
Loosehead Prop, 31 years old.

A familiar face for Scotland fans. Rory returns to Scotland after a couple of seasons split across a few different clubs since the collapse of Worcester Warrior. He joins from Oyonnax who finished bottom of the Top 14 last season. At the start of 2020, Rory seemed to be Scotland’s first-choice loosehead and got 3 caps for the Lions against South Africa in 2021. However, since Pierre Schoeman became eligible for Scotland and with Rory moving around clubs so much his form has dipped. 31 is not too old for a prop as seen with WP Nel who retired this season aged 38 and still playing great rugby – so fans should expect Rory to be a strong member of the squad providing depth in the front row and challenging with Jamie Bhatti for a starting role. If he can refind his form from a couple of years ago this could be a brilliant signing. 

Fin Richardson
Tighthead prop, 25 years old.

A less well-known signing than Rory, but not one which should be overlooked. Tighthead is a position Scotland has been looking to build depth at for a while and Richardson is someone who could become long-term number two behind Zander Fagerson. A former Merchiston pupil, Richardson attended Exeter University and won the BUCS Super Rugby championship in 2022. He is a former Scotland U20 player and has been at Exeter Chiefs since 2022. Whilst his minutes played are very low, even during a loan spell at Cornish Pirates last season, fans should expect him to make a few appearances this season and hopefully improve under the coaching of Al Dickinson. 

Patrick Schickerling
Tighthead prop, 25 years old. 

Another 25-year-old tighthead from Exeter Chiefs, but this time, it is a far more established player. Schickerling has been at Exeter since 2019 and scored 7 tries in 38 matches in that time. Whilst not often a starter at Exeter, the prop made a single England appearance in 2022 vs the Barbarians and went on tour with England to Australia but didn’t make any more appearances as it was revealed he was not yet eligible for England for one more year.  Schickerling is known for having a good running game as well as being solid in the set piece. 

Sam Talakai
Tighthead prop, 32 years old

Another prop signing for Glasgow. Talakai is a veteran Aussie prop who brings lots of experience to the Warriors and will hopefully aid in the development of Richardson and other young props from Glasgow’s academy. Talakai has over 100 Super Rugby appearances split between the Reds and the Rebels. He has one Wallabies cap and spent three years in Japan playing for Suntory. 

Adam Hastings
Fly-half, 27 years old.

A welcome return to Glasgow for the Scotland fly-half. After three injury-ravaged seasons in Gloucester, Hastings will be looking to get his club and test career back on track. He joins the club entering into a battle with Tom Jordan to be the first-choice fly-half. However, Jordan can also play centre and may well be spending a lot more time there this season with Hastings at 10. Hastings did have success at Gloucester, enjoying a 53% win rate in his 39 matches there and scoring 347 points as well as reaching the Challenge Cup final last season. He played well on the Scotland tour and should hit the ground running at Scotstoun. 

OUT

Oli Kebble
Prop, 32 years old.

A fan favourite, Kebble leaves after 7 seasons at Scotstoun. The giant South African-born prop made 105 appearances for Glasgow and earned 12 Scotland caps. He played in both prop positions during his time at the Warriors with his most successful spell probably being when he started 20 games in the 2018/19 season as Glasgow reached the Pro14 final. Crossing over with Rory Sutherland to Oyonnax, he will be replaced in the Glasgow front row by Schickerling / Talakai.  

Lucio Sordoni
Tighthead prop, 26 years old. 

The Argentinian prop departs after two very successful seasons at Glasgow. Sordoni played 32 times for Glasgow and started 18 of those matches. He scored one try and played a key role filling the spot left when Zander Fagerson was unavailable. It’s not yet clear where he is heading but he should hopefully add to his 7 Argentinian caps this summer in the Rugby Championship before finding a new club. He is being replaced by Fin Richardson.

Fraser Brown
Hooker, 35 years old. 

The first of two legendary hookers departing the club this season. Fraser Brown retires after 138 games for Glasgow and 60 Scotland caps. He scored 25 times for Glasgow and was a brilliant leader throughout his career. His ability to jackal and be a strong ball carrier were what made him stand out for so long alongside his strong set piece. There are no new hookers coming into the squad so the four remaining hookers Johnny Matthews, Gregor Hiddleston, Grant Stewart and Angus Fraser will have to step up. 

George Turner
Hooker, 31 years old.

Another brilliant hooker leaving the club, Turner heads to Japan to play for the Kobe Steelers. Turner played 103 times for Glasgow and scored 16 tries. His fast pace and ferocious chop tackling made him stand out and helped him earn his 44 Scotland caps. Another whose spot will be filled by the four hookers still at the club. 

Sintu Manjezi
Second row, 29 years old.

Sintu didn’t have the best time at Glasgow. Despite it being a very successful two years, Sintu only managed 12 starts in 23 matches for the Warriors. Whilst he clearly worked hard and always tried his best on the pitch, he failed to stand out amongst a cohort of brilliant second rows such as Scott Cummings, Richie Gray, JP du Preez and Max Williamson. He joined the Bulls, so it’s likely Warriors fans will be seeing him again next season. 

Tom Gordon 
Openside flanker, 27 years old

Tom Gordon announced himself to Warriors fans back in 2019 with a Man of the Match performance against Edinburgh just before the playoffs. He seemed set to be Glasgow’s first-choice openside for a long time, however, the arrival of Rory Darge for the Rainbow Cup in 2021 overturned that and Darge has since driven his dominance to greater honours. Gordon has contributed massively to the club in his 6 seasons, playing 76 times and scoring 12 tries. A brilliant defender, Gordon always stepped up whenever Darge was unavailable and contributed to Glasgow’s strong depth in the back row. He could be a player Glasgow will miss this season when the first-choice back row is away in Scotland camps. 

Ross Thompson
Fly-half, 25 years old

Another player who seemed set to be starting fly half for years to come just a couple of seasons ago is leaving. When Thompson burst onto the scene under Danny Wilson he quickly cemented himself as first-choice fly-half starting 27 games for Glasgow across two seasons and even getting 3 Scotland caps. With his main rival for the 10 jersey, the now-returning Adam Hastings, leaving the club in 2021, Thompson should have enjoyed a couple of seasons as the starting 10. However, injury after injury set him back and Tom Jordan took advantage whilst Duncan Weir and Domingo Miotti slotted in comfortably when needed. Thompson could not get enough games or form back. He heads to Edinburgh to be back up to Ben Healy, he should have more luck getting game time there. 

Greg Peterson
Second row, 33 years old

The first of three players to depart midway through the season. Peterson returned for a short spell at Glasgow for the first half of the season before heading to San Diego in the MLR. The giant American was a physical presence and played well in his loan period. He was a good addition, while Cummings and Gray recovered from the World Cup and JP du Preez was out for the season. However, once the Scotland duo returned, he was not needed as an ageing second row taking up space younger Scottish qualified locks like Max Williamson could be filling. 

Enrique Pierretto
Tighthead prop, 29 years old

Enrique Pierretto struggled with injury during his time at Scotstoun. He arrived a promising prospect from Exeter in 2020 having made 25 appearances for Argentina at that point. His best season came in 20/21 when he made 21 appearances for the club, the majority of his 35 in total. He left for the Waratahs midway through the season as he looks to get his career back on track there. 

Ali Price
Scrum-half, 31 years old

A Glasgow legend. After 10 seasons at Glasgow Ali Price moved on: to rivals Edinburgh. In a loan move that made sense for both clubs Price moved to Edinburgh, who have been struggling for a game management scrum-half and left Glasgow with four 9s still in the squad. Price played 133 times for Glasgow and scored 19 tries, while also going on a Lions tour and earning 69 of his 70 Scotland caps while at the club. A key player for so many seasons who will never be forgotten by Warriors fans, Price brought a fast pace to his play and became a master box kicker which propelled him to the Lions starter in 2021. The rise of Horne and Dobie eventually forced this move, but he will be remembered for his role in many brilliant Glasgow victories such as Leicester away in 2017, and Leinster away in 2021. 

The post Glasgow Warriors’ Season Preview appeared first on Scottish Rugby Blog.