Sione Tuipulotu back in Glasgow saddle as Ulster lose Ireland duo

Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu will play his first match of the new season in Glasgow’s home URC clash with Ulster at Scotstoun on Saturday.

The talismanic centre, who faces a big year ahead leading into the 2027 Rugby World Cup, will have his workload carefully managed across the coming campaign.

But having sat out Warriors’ opening win over Munster in Limerick, Tuipulotu returns this week in one of three changes to the starting XV with Stafford McDowall, who continues to captain the side, switching to outside centre to accommodate Tuipulotu and Ollie Smith dropping out of the 23.

The rest of the backline is unchanged, with the other two changes coming in the pack.

Fin Richardson takes over from Murphy Walker at tighthead prop in his first competitive outing since April, while Angus Fraser comes into the back row at openside flanker with Rory Darge starting on the bench.

Fixture

United Rugby Championship

Glasgow

09:30

3 Oct 26

Ulster

All Stats and Data

Glasgow are back at Scotstoun for the first time this season and will be playing on a new 4G surface after the old pitch – affectionately known by the players as “the car park” – was replaced during the summer after the stadium was used for the Commonwealth Games athletics.

“A lot of work has gone in behind the scenes to get the pitch and the stadium ready for this weekend, and we want to go out and produce a performance that reflects that effort,” said head coach Franco Smith. “Our hard work last week paid off with the right result [against Munster], but we know that there is still more to come from this group of players.

“Ulster will be a tough opponent as we see year upon year – they play well both at home and away and have international quality throughout their squad, so we know we will have a tough challenge in front of us on Saturday.”

Ulster are without wings Robert Baloucoune and Aitzol Arenzana-King, plus full-back Michael Lowry, for the trip to Glasgow.

Baloucoune and Lowry were forced off with concussion in their 34-29 home defeat by Edinburgh last week, while Arenzana-King picked up a knee injury.

But Ireland quartet Jacob Stockdale, hooker Tom Stewart, who captains the side, lock Cormac Izuchukwu and No.8 Bryn Ward all return to the starting line-up, while scrum-half Nathan Doak is among the replacements.
Stockdale, who takes over from Lowry in the No.15 jersey, will play his 150th game for the province.
New signings Keynan Knox, Matthew Devine and Chay Mullins all make their first Ulster starts.

Glasgow team: 15 Josh McKay, 14 Kyle Rowe, 13 Stafford McDowall (capt), 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Jamie Dobie, 10 Dan Lancaster, 9 George Horne; 1 Patrick Schickerling, 2 Gregor Hiddleston, 3 Fin Richardson, 4 Gregor Brown, 5 Max Williamson, 6 Ally Miller, 7 Angus Fraser, 8 Matt Fagerson.

Replacements: 16 Seb Stephen, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Scott Cummings, 20 Rory Darge 21 Macenzzie Duncan, 22 Callum Reidy, 23 Bayley Kuenzle.

Ulster team: 15 Jacob Stockdale; 14 Chay Mullins, 13 Ethan McIlroy, 12 Jamie Benson, 11 Zac Ward, 10 Jack Murphy, 9 Matthew Devine; 1 Eric O’Sullivan, 2 Tom Stewart (capt), 3 Keynan Knox, 4 Cormac Izuchukwu, 5 Eli Snyman, 6 James McKillop, 7 David McCann, 8 Bryn Ward.

Replacements: 16 Henry Walker, 17 Tom McAllister, 18 Eduardo Bello, 19 Ben Donnell, 20 James McNabney, 21 Nathan Doak, 22 Jake Flannery, 23 Juarno Augustus.