Glasgow Warriors man sets target for season as Sione Tuipulotu returns

Kyle Rowe has had to be patient at points in his career but the Glasgow Warriors back feels now is the time for him to seize opportunities for club and country.

Injury denied him the chance to play in the 2023 tournament in France. Rowe tore his anterior cruciate ligament on his Scotland debut against Argentina in 2022 and spent a year on the sidelines.

A move to Glasgow Warriors reignited his career and the 28-year-old was soon back in the national squad. Last summer, with Blair Kinghorn absent, he was selected at full-back for Scotland’s Nations Championship games against Argentina and South Africa and showed up well, scoring a try in each match.

“It's given me good confidence,” he said. “It shows that I can play against the best in the world. I show that with Glasgow as well. It's not just on the international stage but doing it on that international level obviously gives you that extra little boost.

“I wouldn't say I've got any more motivation than I did previously. My motivation is to always put on that Scotland jersey as many times as I can and represent Scotland to the best of my ability.

“Away from home against Argentina and South Africa I feel like I did that for the most part. I just want to build into this season and hit the autumn in the best form that I can be.”

Glasgow made a promising start to the new United Rugby Championship season, beating Munster away last weekend. They host Ulster at Scotstoun this Saturday, with Rowe again picked on the wing. He’s keen to cement his place in the side and then join up with Scotland again when the Nations Championship resumes in November. After that, the Six Nations and the World Cup will follow in quick succession.

“Yeah, it's a big year with the World Cup coming but I just want to play as many times as I can,” said Rowe.

“As long as I'm available every week, training well, playing well every weekend or whenever I'm picked in, that's all I can really do.

“There's a lot of rugby to be played this season, a lot to look forward to at the end of the year. Hopefully I don't miss out this time going to the World Cup.”

Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu returns to the Glasgow side for the match against Ulster, one of three changes made by head coach Franco Smith. Tuipulotu comes in at inside centre, with Ollie Smith dropping out and Stafford McDowall moving from 12 to 13.

Up front, Fin Richardson replaces Murphy Walker as tighthead prop and Angus Fraser starts at openside, with Rory Darge rotating to the bench.

Ulster went down at home to Edinburgh last week and Glasgow are braced for the backlash at Scotstoun.

“They lost last weekend and they're not going to want to go 0-2 at the start of the season so we know they're going to bring everybody to try and knock us off and get a win,” said Rowe. “We just need to be on top of our game and put our game in place and go out there and get the win.”

BKT United Rugby Championship round 2, Scotstoun Stadium, Saturday, 5.30pm

Glasgow Warriors: Josh McKay; Kyle Rowe, Stafford McDowall (capt), Sione Tuipulotu, Jamie Dobie; Dan Lancaster, George Horne; Patrick Schickerling, Gregor Hiddleston, Fin Richardson, Gregor Brown, Max Williamson, Ally Miller, Angus Fraser, Matt Fagerson. Replacements: Seb Stephen, Nathan McBeth, Sam Talakai, Scott Cummings, Rory Darge, Macenzzie Duncan, Callum Reidy, Bayley Kuenzle.

Ulster: Jacob Stockdale; Chay Mullins, Ethan McIlroy, Jamie Benson, Zac Ward; Jack Murphy, Matthew Devine; Eric O’Sullivan, Tom Stewart (capt), Keynan Knox, Cormac Izuchukwu, Eli Snyman, James McKillop, David McCann, Bryn Ward. Replacements: Henry Walker, Tom McAllister, Eduardo Bello, Ben Donnell, James McNabney, Nathan Doak, Jake Flannery, Juarno Augustus.

Referee: Christopher Allison (SARU).