Glasgow rookie Ben Afshar set for biggest game as Toulon come to Scotstoun

Glasgow scrum-half Ben Afshar will start the biggest game of his career in Saturday’s Investec Champions Cup quarter-final against Toulon at Scotstoun.

The 23-year-old, who agreed a new two-year contract with the Warriors this week until the summer of 2028, will make only his 11th senior start for the club – and sixth this season – against the French giants.

Afshar came on as a first-half replacement last week in Glasgow’s 25-21 Round of 16 win over the Bulls for George Horne, who has failed to shake off an ankle injury in time.

The Warriors are also without another Scotland scrum-half in Jamie Dobie, who has been sidelined since the Six Nations following shoulder surgery.

Afshar will be joined at half-back by Dan Lancaster, who retains the No.10 jersey with Adam Hastings remaining on the bench. Jack Oliver joins the replacements as scrum-half cover and could make his Champions Cup debut.

Lions centre Huw Jones, who will join Toulon next season, does not make the 23 for a second week in a row, with Stafford McDowall starting alongside Sione Tuipulotu after a player-of-the-match display against Bulls.

The only other change to the Warriors side is in the pack, where the 6ft 8in, 123kg lock Jare Oguntibeju, 23, starts in the second row ahead of Scotland cap Max Williamson, who drops to the bench.

Head-to-Head

Last 3 Meetings

Wins

1

Draws

0

Wins

2

Average Points scored

26

26

First try wins

100%

Home team wins

67%

This will be the fourth season in a row Warriors have faced Toulon in European competition.

Glasgow were thumped 43-19 in the final of the Challenge Cup in Dublin in May 2023 at the end of Franco Smith’s first season in charge, and the two clubs have been paired in the pool stages of the Champions Cup for the past two seasons.

In 2023-24, Warriors were pipped 30-29 at Stade Felix Mayol despite out-scoring the hosts four tries to three, while last season they beat Toulon 29-5 at Scotstoun, scoring five tries to one.

“Toulon are well accustomed to knockout matches of this scale, with a proud heritage of success in this competition,” head coach Smith said of the visitors, who won three successive European titles from 2013 to 2015.

“They have a squad that blends a physical forward pack with a back line that can cause problems for any team, and we know that we must be at our best to meet their challenge.

“The atmosphere at Scotstoun for our European fixtures this season has been second to none, and we know that the Warrior Nation will be behind us all the way again tomorrow afternoon.”

Toulon also make two changes to the side which squeezed home 28-27 over Stormers in their last-16 tie.

Former France full-back Melvyn Jaminet is recalled at 15 in place of Marius Domon, who suffered a season-ending knee injury against Stormers.

Jeremy Sinzelle also takes over from Antoine Frisch at centre, while Scotland scrum-half Ben White retains the No.9 jersey with Baptiste Serin on the bench.

Glasgow: 15. Josh McKay, 14. Kyle Steyn (c), 13. Stafford McDowall, 12. Sione Tuipulotu, 11. Ollie Smith, 10. Dan Lancaster, 9. Ben Afshar, 1. Patrick Schickerling, 2. Gregor Hiddleston, 3. Zander Fagerson, 4. Olujare Oguntibeju, 5. Alex Samuel, 6. Matt Fagerson, 7. Rory Darge, 8. Jack Dempsey.

Replacements: 16. Seb Stephen, 17. Jamie Bhatti, 18. Sam Talakai, 19. Max Williamson, 20. Euan Ferrie, 21. Angus Fraser, 22. Jack Oliver, 23. Adam Hastings.

Toulon: 15. Melvyn Jaminet, 14. Gaël Drean, 13. Nacho Brex, 12. Jérémy Sinzelle, 11. Setariki Tuicuvu, 10. Tomas Albornoz, 9. Ben White, 1. Jean-Baptiste Gros, 2. Teddy Baubigny, 3. Kyle Sinckler, 4. Corentin Mezou, 5. David Ribbans (c), 6. Junior Kpoku, 7. Charles Ollivon, 8. Mikheil Shioshvili.

Replacements: 16. Gianmarco Lucchesi, 17. Daniel Brennan, 18. Beka Gigashvili, 19. Matthias Halagahu, 20. Zach Mercer, 21. Baptiste Serin, 22. Esteban Abadie, 23. Mathis Ferte.