Huw Jones' return one of nine changes for Glasgow Warriors

Glasgow have recalled Lions centre Huw Jones among nine changes to their starting side for Saturday’s URC match against the Lions in Johannesburg.

Jones was left out of Warriors’ two European Champions Cup knock-out games against the Bulls and Toulon over the last fortnight, with Franco Smith preferring Stafford McDowall at 13 alongside Sione Tuipulotu.

But for the first of two matches in South Africa – Glasgow face the Stormers in Cape Town a week on Saturday – McDowall and Jones are paired together in midfield, with Tuipulotu on the bench.

Wingers Kyle Rowe and Fergus Watson also come into the backline, with captain Kyle Steyn and Ollie Smith dropping out, while scrum-half Jack Oliver is handed his first start in the No.9 jersey.

Up front, there is an all-new front row of Rory Sutherland, Seb Stephen and Fin Richardson, while Euan Ferrie and Sione Vailanu come into the back row alongside No.8 Jack Dempsey, with Matt Fagerson rested and Rory Darge back in Scotland with his partner expecting their first child.

Fixture

United Rugby Championship

Lions

07:00

18 Apr 26

Glasgow

All Stats and Data

Fit-again Nathan McBeth joins Gregor Hiddleston and Zander Fagerson as the front-row cover on the bench.

But with four Scotland second-rows unavailable through injury, academy locks Dylan Cockburn, 20 and Ryan Burke, 21, are both named among the replacements, with Burke poised for his senior Warriors debut.

Lions: Quan Horn, Angelo Davids, Henco van Wyk, Richard Kriel, Erich Cronje, Chris Smith, Morne van den Berg, SJ Kotze, PJ Botha, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Etienne Oosthuizen, Darrien Landsberg, Siba Mahashe, Ruan Venter, Francke Horn (CAPT)

Replacements: Franco Marais, Eddie Davids, Sebastian Lombard, Reinhard Nothnagel, Batho Hlekani, JC Pretorius, Nico Steyn, Kelly Mpeku

Glasgow Warriors: Josh McKay, Kyle Rowe, Huw Jones, Stafford McDowall (CAPT), Fergus Watson, Dan Lancaster, Jack Oliver; Rory Sutherland, Seb Stephen, Fin Richardson, Jare Oguntibeju, Alex Samuel, Euan Ferrie, Sione Vailanu, Jack Dempsey

Replacements: Gregor Hiddleston, Nathan McBeth, Zander Fagerson, Dylan Cockburn, Ryan Burke, Angus Fraser, Ben Afshar, Sione Tuipulotu