Glasgow make seven changes for Northampton opener

Matt Fagerson scored against Bath in last season's Challenge Cup

Number eight Matt Fagerson starts in one of seven Glasgow Warriors changes for their Investec Champions Cup opener against Northampton Saints on Friday.

Scott Cummings shifts to the flank and centre Huw Jones returns from injury.

England scrum-half Alex Mitchell returns to Northampton's starting line-up after scoring the decisive try in their win over Saracens last week.

Winger George Hendy is set to make his Champions Cup debut, with Ollie Sleightholme on the opposite side.

Flanker Courtney Lawes, who retired from international rugby after the World Cup, starts his fourth game this season, with full-back George Furbank captaining the side again.

The Warriors are second in the United Rugby Championship, while Northampton are only two points off top spot in the Premiership in fifth place.

With teams not playing sides from their own league, Glasgow will also play Bayonne, Toulon and Exeter Chiefs in Pool Three, while the Saints will face the two French clubs and Munster.

Teams

Glasgow: McKay; Cancelliere, Jones, McDowall (capt), Smith; Jordan, Kennedy; Bhatti, Matthews, Fagerson, Manjezi, Gray, Cummings, Darge, Fagerson.

Replacements: Turner, Kebble, Sordoni, Williamson, Miller, Vailanu, Afshar, Thompson.

Northampton: Furbank (capt); Sleightholme, Freeman, Dingwall, Hendy; Smith, Mitchell; Waller, Langdon, Hill, Lockett, Moon, Lawes, Scott-Young, Graham.

Replacements: R Smith, Haffar, Davison, Mayanavanua, Pearson, James, Litchfield, Seabrook.

Referee: Luc Ramos (Fra)

• •Rugby Union Weekly: Champions Cup launch part one
• Rugby Union Weekly: Champions Cup launch part two