Tuipuloto to captain Glasgow against Bulls

Sione Tuipulotu will captain Glasgow Warriors for the first time as they look to take on the Vodacom Bulls in their Vodacom United Rugby Championship match at the Scotstoun Stadium on Saturday night.

The 25-year-old will skipper a starting XV showing three changes from last weekend’s outing in Swansea, as the Warriors look to extend an unbeaten run at home in the league that stretches back to October 2021.

Matt Fagerson returns to the line-up after missing last weekend’s match due to injury, coming in to start at No 8 alongside Gregor Brown and Thomas Gordon in the back-row. George Horne will return at scrumhalf with the final change coming as Josh McKay returns from surgery for his first appearance of the season for the Warriors.

Lucio Sordoni – who put pen to paper on a two-year contract with the club earlier this week – replaces Simon Berghan as the cover at tight-head on the bench.

Coach Franco Smith was looking forward to a tough clash with the Bulls

“We know we welcome a formidable unbeaten Bulls side to Scotstoun tomorrow. We will need to take our chances and be more clinical against what will be a of big South African side.

“Sione [Tuipulotu] has been a stand out player for us in the opening rounds and plays a key part in our leadership team in training and on game days. He’s passionate about this club and is fully deserving of the honour of leading the team out on Saturday night.

“The Bulls are another opportunity to take a step forward in our journey and everyone at the club is looking forward to welcoming them to Scotstoun tomorrow night.”

Glasgow Warriors: Josh McKay, Sebastian Cancelliere, Sione Tuipulotu (C), Sam Johnson, Cole Forbes, Tom Jordan, George Horne; Jamie Bhatti, Fraser Brown, Zander Fagerson, Scott Cummings, Richie Gray, Gregor Brown, Thomas Gordon, Matt Fagerson.

Replacements: George Turner, Oli Kebble, Lucio Sordoni, JP du Preez, Sintu Manjezi, Ryan Wilson, Ali Price, Domingo Miotti