Jamie Ritchie set for Glasgow debut in Treviso after injury lay-off
Glasgow Warriors are finally ready to unleash Jamie Ritchie.
Assistant coach Nigel Carolan says the former Scotland captain is back in full training and expected to make his long-delayed debut in Saturday's United Rugby Championship game against Benetton in Treviso, according to BBC Sport. Carolan said it would be great to have him involved, either starting or on the bench.
That is welcome news after a frustrating start. Ritchie, 30, joined Glasgow in the summer from Perpignan in France's Top 14 but has yet to play after ankle and Achilles tendon trouble. He needed surgery over the summer and missed the opening months of the season. He has won 63 caps for Scotland.
The possible return comes at a useful moment. Scotland begin their Nations Cup campaign in a couple of weeks. Carolan linked club minutes now to that international window ahead.
It has been a long road to this point. Ritchie spent more than a decade at Edinburgh, where he made 133 appearances, before moving to France. He signed a two-year deal with Glasgow as part of an evolution of Franco Smith's squad. Jack Dempsey left in the summer, while Ritchie and Ruwald van der Merwe came in.
September reports had suggested November for a possible return, so involvement this weekend would be slightly ahead of that schedule, according to Yahoo Sports.
Glasgow need all hands available. They are second in the United Rugby Championship after three games, just behind Edinburgh. The league brings together teams from Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Italy and South Africa. Last season Glasgow finished top of the table but lost to the Bulls in the play-off semi-finals.
For anyone new to Ritchie, he plays flanker. That means he is one of the mobile forwards whose job is tackling, chasing breakdowns (the contest for the ball on the ground after a tackle) and carrying hard into contact. He built his reputation on work rate and toughness rather than flashy tries.
For fans, this means a first look at a proven Test player in a Glasgow shirt. A trip to Treviso is never simple. Benetton are well drilled and strong at home, so an experienced head in the back row could be valuable if he gets on the field.
