Glasgow sign 6'8, 129kg soldier on short term loan

Northampton Saints have confirmed that hulking lock Lewis Bean has joined Glasgow Warriors on a month-long loan. The 28-year-old second row will provide injury cover for the Scottish Pro14 outfit and goes straight into Glasgow’s matchday 23 for Warriors’ clash at Ulster on Monday evening.

Bean – who is also a Corporal in the British Army - earlier this week helped lead the Northampton Saints' Remembrance Ceremony. He is due to return to Franklin’s Gardens in December. Rifleman Bean has been on two tours of Afghanistan during his time in the military services, but also worked his way up through the Army’s age-grade teams and featured in the 100th anniversary match between the Army and Navy at Twickenham in 2017.

The massive lock has balanced his career while playing for Moseley in National One in recent seasons.

Meanwhile Glasgow Warriors have made seven changes from last week’s home defeat to Leinster will take to the field in Belfast tomorrow night, as Danny Wilson’s men travel to the Kingspan Stadium for their first Guinness PRO14 trip to Ulster since April 2018.

The team sees summer arrival Enrique Pieretto make his first start for the club since arriving at Scotstoun over the summer, as the Argentina international packs down at tight-head prop. Pieretto is joined in the front row by Aki Seiuli and Grant Stewart, with Seiuli one of only three players in the squad to have played a part in each of Glasgow’s outings to date this campaign.

Kiran McDonald makes his first appearance of the season in the second row, as the former Glasgow Hawk starts alongside Rob Harley in the engine room.

The back row is once again unchanged, as club co-captain Ryan Wilson and Tom Gordon pack down either side of Samoan international number eight TJ Ioane.

Jamie Dobie is promoted from the bench to take the scrum-half jersey, with Pete Horne making his third successive start at fly-half.

A new look midfield partnership sees Stafford McDowall come into the starting XV at inside centre, whilst Scotland 7s star Robbie Fergusson is in line to make his first Glasgow Warriors appearance in five years after being named in the number 13 shirt.

Niko Matawalu and Ratu Tagive will start on the wings, with Glenn Bryce starting at full-back for his first outing of the campaign.

On the bench, Lewis Bean is in line to become the 316th player to represent the club after arriving on a short-term loan deal from Northampton Saints to provide cover in the second row.

Niko Matawalu scores try for Glasgow Warriors against Lyon (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

After his try-scoring performance against Leinster last time out, D’arcy Rae rotates to the bench to join Alex Allan and Johnny Matthews as the front row replacements.

Hamish Bain is another to move to the replacements after starting against both the Ospreys and Leinster, where he joins Tongan international Fotu Lokotui.

Brandon Thomson retains his place in the matchday squad after making his first appearance of the campaign last week, with Sean Kennedy rounding out the Glasgow replacements.

Speaking to glasgowwarriors.org, Head Coach Danny Wilson said: “With our internationals staying with Scotland we have had to make a number of changes across the park.

“Monday is massive opportunity for a lot of our young guys to step up and show what they can do.

“We’re putting out a young fast energetic squad out onto the park and we’re excited to see what this team will produce.

“We know they are going to show up and give their all for the jersey.”

Glasgow Warriors team to play Ulster:

1. Aki Seiuli (15)

2. Grant Stewart (34)

3. Enrique Pieretto (3)

4. Rob Harley (235)

5. Kiran McDonald (26)

6. Ryan Wilson (C) (174)

7. Tom Gordon (22)

8. TJ Ioane (2)

9. Jamie Dobie (10)

10. Pete Horne (174)

11. Niko Matawalu (131)

12. Stafford McDowall (23)

13. Robbie Fergusson (2)

14. Ratu Tagive (17)

15. Glenn Bryce (29)

Replacements

16. Johnny Matthews (3)

17. Alex Allan (105)

18. D’arcy Rae (74)

19. Lewis Bean (0)

20. Hamish Bain (2)

21. Fotu Lokotui (3)

22. Sean Kennedy (8)

23. Brandon Thomson (25)

Unavailable due to injury: Mesu Dolokoto, Richie Gray, Lee Jones, Paddy Kelly, Leone Nakarawa, Kyle Steyn.

Unavailable due to international duty: Fraser Brown, Scott Cummings, Matt Fagerson, Zander Fagerson, Nick Grigg, Adam Hastings, George Horne, Sam Johnson, Huw Jones, Oli Kebble, Ali Price, George Turner.