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Franco Smith reveals Glasgow Warriors' 'big objective' for Champions Cup

By PA
Glasgow's Tom Jordan during the Investec Champions Cup Round Of 16 match between Harlequins and Glasgow Warriors at The Stoop on April 5, 2024 in London, England.(Photo by Bob Bradford - CameraSport via Getty Images)

Franco Smith has challenged Glasgow to complement an encouraging start to their United Rugby Championship title defence by mounting a strong run in the Investec Champions Cup.

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Warriors begin their European campaign at home to Gallagher Premiership side Sale on Saturday while they face further pool-stage fixtures against French pair Toulon and Racing 92 as well as Harlequins.

Glasgow enter the competition in good fettle, buoyed by being second in the URC with five wins from their last six matches. Smith is eager to see them carry their form into Europe.

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“Being consistent in the Investec Champions Cup is a big objective for this group,” the head coach told Warriors’ website.

“We look forward to the challenge of competing with the best in Europe – Sale, Toulon, Racing and Harlequins are four quality outfits.

“We know we will need to be at our best against Sale, and we look forward to getting our campaign under way.”

Smith has made eight changes to the side that started last Friday’s 17-15 victory at Scarlets, with hooker Gregor Hiddleston added to the XV along with Scotland internationals Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, Jamie Bhatti, Zander Fagerson, Scott Cummings, Matt Fagerson and Rory Darge.

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GLASGOW WARRIORS: Jamie Bhatti, 2. Gregor Hiddleston, 3. Zander Fagerson, 4. Olujare Oguntibeju, 5. Scott Cummings, 6. Matt Fagerson, 7. Rory Darge, 8. Henco Venter, 9. George Horne, 10. Tom Jordan, 11. Kyle Rowe, 12. Sione Tuipulotu, 13. Huw Jones, 14. Sebastian Cancelliere, 15. Josh McKay

REPLACEMENTS: 16. Johnny Matthews, 17. Rory Sutherland, 18. Sam Talakai, 19. Alex Samuel, 20. Ally Miller, 21. Jack Mann, 22. Jamie Dobie, 23. Duncan Weir

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BleedRed&Black 1 hour ago
Who is telling the truth about France's tour of New Zealand?

What you mean is that you have now put the hookers on the list, having edited them in after I pointed out their absence. Even then you missed out that Mauvaka is allegedly "eligible", when of course we all know that "eligible" means exactly what French rugby wants it to mean, and therefore a propaganda device designed to convince the credulous and protect the dishonest. I will leave you to make another edit.


It's nice to see what you and AlanP are finally admitting what is real, that France puts all its focus on its own domestic interests and gives Southern hemisphere rugby the leftovers. You finally admit that the way French Rugby is structured France's strongest squad, its 6N squad, will not play in the southern hemisphere. That is exactly what Bishop’s article is about, that the French rugby's claim that the leading French players have "played too much" to tour NZ is a fraud designed to explain away the fact this is purely a development tour for France, and therefore a betrayal of the spirit, if not the letter, of the international tours agreement. Someone really should let Bishop know his most extreme critics are finally admitting he is right. He will be very pleased.


It's worth emphasizing just how isolated France is in this. Every 6N team manages their players in a way that they allows them to tour the Southern Hemisphere with the strongest squad they have. Except France. Every 6N team, England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, even Italy, live up to the spirit as well as the letter of the tours agreement. Except France. Ireland have delivered massively over the three years, winning three tests and narrowly losing two in their five tests in NZ and SA. Those were genuinely great series. Even the England series in NZ last year was excellent, crude but close with the English pouring everything into getting a win. The contrast between the efforts made by Ireland and England as against France is extreme. France instead sits back in its splendid isolation, sends NZ its third best, and lies that it is the best it can do. You have to wonder what Blanco and Sella and Berbizier and Rives, the greats of French rugby, men who gave their guts for France, in NZ as much as anywhere, think of French rugby's contempt for NZ rugby. And of the barrage of lies that have accompanied it.

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