Sione Vailanu returns to rugby after 15 months on sidelines

Sione Vailanu will make his first Glasgow appearance since 2023 when Warriors host Munster on Friday night.

The Tonga international back-row forward has recovered from a knee injury that has sidelined him for 15 months.

Captain Kyle Steyn also returns for the BKT United Rugby Championship encounter after recovering from the knee injury that ruled him out of the Guinness Six Nations.

Huw Jones misses out with head and ankle injuries after playing in Scotland’s defeat by France on Saturday but Stafford McDowall is straight back into the team after replacing his fellow centre in Paris.

Gregor Brown and Matt Fagerson – who made 29 carries between them at the Stade de France – are on the bench.

Head coach Franco Smith told the club’s website: “We know that the rivalry with Munster is known to everyone, but we’re concentrating on reintegrating everyone back into our environment after the Six Nations to help grow our continuity for the rest of the season.

"We’re also pleased to welcome Sione and Kyle back to the lineup after their respective injuries; both men have worked hard in their rehabilitation with our medical and S&C teams, and are raring to go tomorrow night.”

Glasgow Warriors: Kyle Rowe, Sebastian Cancelliere, Ollie Smith, Stafford McDowall, Kyle Steyn (CAPT), Adam Hastings, George Horne, Jamie Bhatti, Johnny Matthews, Patrick Schickerling, Jare Oguntibeju, Alex Samuel, Euan Ferrie, Sione Vailanu, Jack Mann

Replacements: Grant Stewart, Nathan McBeth, Sam Talakai, JP du Preez, Gregor Brown, Matt Fagerson, Ben Afshar, Duncan Weir

Munster: Ben O'Connor, Seán O'Brien, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Andrew Smith, Tony Butler, Paddy Patterson, Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron (CAPT), Stephen Archer, Fineen Wycherley, Tom Ahern, Alex Kendellen, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes

Replacements: Danny Sheahan, Josh Wycherley, John Ryan, Brian Gleeson, Ruadhán Quinn, Ethan Coughlan, Gordon Wood, Rory Scannell