Sione Tuipulotu returns from injury but Glasgow Warriors lose at Leinster

British and Irish Lion Sione Tuipulotu made his return from injury in Glasgow Warriors’ 13-5 defeat to Leinster at the Aviva Stadium.

Ruled out since January with a pectoral injury, Tuipulotu got 40 minutes under his belt but BKT United Rugby Championship table-toppers Leinster were victorious.

Jimmy O’Brien’s 27th-minute try gave the Irish province a 7-0 half-time lead, while Adam Hastings and Sam Prendergast both missed penalties.

A slick George Horne try cancelled out a Prendergast three-pointer, but Leinster – with replacement Ciaran Frawley landing a late penalty – prevailed ahead of their May 31 quarter-final clash with the Scarlets.

Defending champions Glasgow, who were leapfrogged by Hollywoodbets Sharks into third place, will host the DHL Stormers in two weeks’ time.

Lions squad members James Ryan and Tuipulotu were both back from spells on the sidelines, the latter combining with fellow Lions call-up Huw Jones in Glasgow’s midfield.

Despite the Scots starting strongly, Hastings flicked a penalty wide off a post before Leinster began to put phases together.

O’Brien had a try ruled out for a Prendergast kick not coming from the penalty mark. However, a questionable knock-on call against Hastings had the Warriors under further pressure.

O’Brien duly scored in the left corner, released by a deftly-executed loop play between Jordie Barrett and Prendergast. The latter added a classy conversion.

After a long-range penalty miss from Prendergast, Tuipulotu threatened when regathering his own chip and kicking ahead again. Jamie Osborne got away with a push to beat him to the ball.

Tuipulotu’s removal looked a precautionary move, and Leinster seized control on the restart. Tommy O’Brien was prominent before Prendergast went agonisingly close to touching down out wide.

Leinster’s superior scrum set up their fly-half to make it 10-0, only for Glasgow to hit back impressively.

Kyle Rowe’s pacy break and kick through had Sebastian Cancelliere cleverly clipping the ball to his left for replacement Horne to half the deficit.

Nonetheless, Leinster managed to disrupt Glasgow’s lineout and maintain the upper hand in the scrum. Frawley then turned a late surge downfield into the clinching kick.