Bayonne tempt Jones away from Warriors

GLASGOW have admitted defeat in their bid to hold on to Huw Jones, who is out of contract in the summer. The 27-yearold Scotland international, who joined the Warriors in 2017, is reported to have agreed terms with French club Bayonne.

“I know we had been discussing a contract with him, but he’s obviously decided not to take that and he’ll be moving on to other pastures,” Glasgow assistant coach Kenny Murray said yesterday. “He’s a big player for us who’s played well over the last few years both at 15 and 13. But he’s decided to move on and we need to move on as a club as well. We’ve looked to make moves to do that already.”

The Warriors selection for tomorrow’s PRO14 match against Leinster certainly shows signs of how the squad is moving on.

Jones is still in the line-up, but back in his original position of outside centre instead of fullback, where Ollie Smith comes in for his first start. Former New Zealand Under-20 cap Cole Forbes will make his debut on the left wing, while right-winger Rufus McLean will be making just his third appearance. On the bench, lock Gregor Brown could come on for his debut.

Zander Fagerson has been listed as unavailable, and Murray thinks this game could count as one of the four matches the tighthead prop must miss as a result of his fourgame ban being upheld by a Six Nations appeal committee. “He didn’t get his ban overturned, but my understanding of what has happened is that this game would potentially count,” the coach added. “Scotland have released nine players back to us, Zander could have played if we’d wanted him this week.”