Glasgow squad arrive in Halifax

Defending Guinness Pro 12 champions Glasgow Warriors have named a strong 28-player squad that has arrived in Halifax this afternoon, where they will play Canada in a friendly on Saturday. Only three of the match day squad from the Pro 12 final played in May are present, with the majority involved in Scotland’s World Cup preparations. Four players who were part of that team in recent weeks have been included.

Rory Hughes, Mike Cusack, and Kevin Bryce have all been released from that group, while Josh Strauss has been loaned back to Gregor Townsend’s team to get game time. The bearded back row is expected to be selected for in Vern Cotter’s final group as he fulfills his residency requirements to play for Scotland on September 19, the day the World Cup officially kicks off.

Other Scottish internationals up front include Pat MacArthur, Kieran Low, Tim Swinson, and Chris Fusaro. Fijian prop Jerry Yanuyanutawa and Italian flanker Simone Favaro are also present after being surprise omissions from their respective international sides.

A young backs division will be steered by former Scotland captain Mike Blair and new signing Grayson Hart and directed from the back by captain Peter Murchie. Hart, Murchie, and winger Lee Jones all have senior international caps on their resume.

The game at Wanderers Grounds will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Nova Scotia rugby and is the first Canadian fixture of any kind in Halifax, we well as the first every meeting between the two sides. Canadian internationals DTH van der Merwe and Connor Braid played for the Warriors this past season, while former international captain Kevin Tkachuk was also a long-time member of the club. Both van der Merwe and Braid are expected to play against their former club on Saturday.

FORWARDS
Mike Cusack, Zander Fagerson, George Hunter, D’Arcy Rae, Jerry Yanuyanutawa, Kevin Bryce, Pat MacArthur, Scott Cummings, James Eddie, Kieran Low, Tim Swinson, Will Bordill, Simone Favaro, Chris Fusaro, Jason Hill, Josh Strauss

BACKS
Mike Blair, Grayson Hart, Rory Clegg, Scott Wight, Glenn Bryce, Robbie Fergusson, Fraser Lyle, Junior Bulumakau, Rory Hughes, Lee Jones, Mark Robertson, Peter Murchie (capt.)