It took time for a new head coach to be found, but Franco Smith, a South African previously in charge of the Italy national team, took over the reins of the club, just before Glasgow Warriors pre-season fixtures were due to be played.

The new coach Franco Smith announced a new captain for Glasgow Warriors, the Scotland international Kyle Steyn.

[citation needed] Hookers Fraser Brown Angus Fraser Gregor Hiddleston Johnny Matthews George Turner Props Simon Berghan Jamie Bhatti Allan Dell Zander Fagerson Oli Kebble Nathan McBeth Enrique Pieretto Lucio Sordoni Murphy Walker Locks Lewis Bean Scott Cummings JP du Preez Richie Gray Alex Samuel Max Williamson Loose forwards Gregor Brown Rory Darge Jack Dempsey Matt Fagerson Euan Ferrie Thomas Gordon Sintu Manjezi Jack Mann Ally Miller Cameron Neild Sione Vailanu Ryan Wilson Scrum halves Jamie Dobie George Horne Cameron Jones Sean Kennedy Ali Price Fly halves Joel Hodgson Will Hunt Tom Jordan Domingo Miotti Ross Thompson Duncan Weir

Centres Huw Jones Sam Johnson Stafford McDowall Sione Tuipulotu Back Three Sebastián Cancelliere Facundo Cordero Walter Fifita Cole Forbes Josh McKay Rufus McLean Ollie Smith Kyle Steyn Logan Trotter These players are given a professional contract by the Scottish Rugby Academy.

The first, against Worcester Warriors, would take place in the Inverness Caledonian Thistle stadium as part of the celebration of the centenary of Highland RFC.

Glasgow Warriors: Nathan McBeth, Johnny Matthews, Simon Berghan, Lewis Bean, Richie Gray, Sintu Manjezi, Thomas Gordon, Sione Vailanu, George Horne, Domingo Miotti, Kyle Steyn, Tom Jordan, Stafford McDowall, Walter Fifita, Cole Forbes Replacements: Fraser Brown, Murphy Walker, Lucio Sordoni, Alex Samuel, Euan Ferrie, JP du Preez, Ryan Wilson, Jack Dempsey, Cameron Jones, Ben Afshar, Joel Hodgson, Will Hunt, Andy Stirrat, Ross McKnight, Sebastián Cancelliere[45]

Ayrshire Bulls: Liam McNamara; J Shedden, R Beattie, A Stirrat, T Glendinning; R Simpson, J Lenac; A Nimmo, J Malcolm, M Scott, E Bloodworth, A Samuel, R Jackson, Lewis McNamara, B Macpherson (captain) Replacements: W Farquhar, A Rogers, A McGuire, J Drummond, C Henderson, E Hamilton-Bulger, T Brown, G Wilson, F Climo, C Elliot, A Tait, E Caven.

Cole Forbes Replacements: Fraser Brown, Jamie Bhatti, Lucio Sordoni, JP du Preez, Ryan Wilson, Sione Vailanu, Euan Ferrie, Cam Jones, Duncan Weir, Sam Johnson, Ross McKnight, Sebastian Cancelliere.

Rory Telfer Replacements: Callum Reid, John Andrew, Declan Moore, Gareth Milasinovich, Frank Bradshaw-Ryan, Harry Sheridan, Jordi Murphy, Lorcan McLoughlin, Dave Shanahan, Michael McDonald, Ian Madigan, Rob Lyttle, Craig Gilroy, Shea O’Brien.

Ayrshire Bulls: William Farquhar, Grant Stewart, Calvin Henderson, Ed Bloodworth, Rory Jackson, Ryan Sweeney, Blair Jardine, Blair Macpherson (Captain), Reiss Cullen, Richie Simpson, Luca Bardelli, Robert Beattie, Jamie Shedden, Thomas Glendinning, Eli CavenReplacements: Lewis McNamara, Andrew Nimmo, Craig Miller, Kerr Yule, Tim Brown, Antony Fitch, Grant Baird, Chris Elliot

Glasgow Warriors 'A': Oli Kebble, Angus Fraser, Murphy Walker, Max Williamson, Alex Samuel, Ally Miller, Archie Smeaton, Gregor Brown, Sean Kennedy, Duncan Weir, Ross McKnight, Duncan Munn, Ben Salmon, Logan Jarvie, Christian Townsend Replacements: Jamie Drummond, Murray McCallum, Euan Ferrie, Harris McLeod, Ben Afshar, Aminio Bogidrau, Callum Ferrie Boroughmuir Bears: Iain Carmichael, Corey Tait, Martin McGinley, Jack Fisher, Josh King, Craig Keddie (Captain), Scott McGinley, Trystan Andrews, Ruaridh Swan, Tom Quinlan, Joe Jenkins, Scott Robeson, Kerr Johnston, Mason Cullen, Callum RammReplacements: Jerry Blyth-Lafferty, Brandon Sweet, Marcus Goodwin, Arthur Allen, Kieran Westlake, Brodie Young, Adam Scott, Alex Thom

Glasgow Warriors 'A': Jamie Drummond, Angus Fraser, Murphy Walker, Max Williamson, Alex Samuel, Ally Miller, Euan Ferrie, Gregor Brown, Sean Kennedy, Duncan Weir, Logan Jarvie, Duncan Munn, Ben Salmon, Amena Casqusau, Christian Townsend Replacements: Gregor Hiddleson, Lucio Sordoni, Harris McLeod, Archie Smeaton, Ben Afshar, Aminio Bogidrau, Ross McKnight Stirling Wolves: Liliam Quarm, Reyner Kennedy (captain), Marius Tamosaitis, Hamish Ferguson, Ruaridh Hart, Jake Spurway, Connor Gordon, Benedict Grant, Kyle McGhie, Craig Jackson, Korie Winters, Marcus Holden, Ryan Southern, Stevie Hamilton, Glenn BryceReplacements: Sam Rainey, Adam Woods, George Breese, James Pow, Shaun MacDonald, Eric Davey, Craig Jardine, Fin Callaghan

Glasgow Warriors 'A': Jamie Drummond, Gregor Hiddleston, Murphy Walker, Max Williamson, Alex Samuel, Thomas Gordon, Gregor Brown, Ally Miller (captain), Finlay Burgess, Christian Townsend, Ross McKnight, Andy Stirrat, Ben Salmon, Logan Jarvie, Facundo Cordero Replacements: Angus Fraser, Mark Ashdown, Luca Alessandri, Harris McLeod, Archie Smeaton, Euan Ferrie, Sean Kennedy, Amino Bogridrau [Ashdown and Alessandri not used] The dates and times for the new season were announced on 5 August 2022.

[46] Glasgow Warriors went into their first competitive match of the season against Benetton Treviso in Italy, having only played one pre-season game.

I also learnt a lot about the emotional intelligence of all of the players out there – you could see how each individual handled pressure, how they converted it into positive energy and so on.

Matt Fagerson said: "We wanted to go out there and show the shifts we’ve made in our game, and while we know we’re by no means the finished article just yet, we did exactly that.

The home match against last season's URC finalists Bulls saw Glasgow once again click into gear with a bonus point win.

Frano Smith commented: "We worked hard all pre-season knowing that we would have to match the South African teams physically, and that was important to what we managed to achieve tonight.

Debutant Alex Samuel noted: "It was a bit stop-start, but we showed tonight that we can play the Glasgow way.

Sione Tuipulotu praised the Warrior Nation for their Murrayfield numbers: "It means so much to us when fans come down and get behind us and it gives us the biggest lift in the game.

The Warriors played with an intensity throughout and there was a fine finish from Sebastián Cancelliere from Tuipulotu's smart kick through to secure the match with a bonus point win.

A difficult match was expected but the Warriors secured a bonus point before half time with Munster yet to score.

We started the second half with a little bit of indiscipline and that’s something we will work on ahead of next week, but to get the win in that style is such a big moment for this group of players.

Adding spice to the match, this would be the forerunner for the European Challenge Cup semi-final tie against the Scarlets at Llanelli.

"[64] Franco Smith was philosophical about the result: "In all honesty, to play in two finals for where we are in year one with these boys would have been a huge task.

"[71] Due to the freezing temperatures, the pitch at Scotstoun was deemed unplayable early and the home tie for Glasgow against Perpignan switched to Edinburgh's Murrayfield Stadium.

Franco Smith explained: "There was a conversation in the changing room - I don't want to say we are disappointed, but we are not completely happy with how it went.

"[76] The Dragons victory set up a quarter final against the Lions, the team that last beat the Warriors back in February 2023.

This was the Warriors fourth European quarter final; the previous three others all away against the Saracens, with their first match up being in the Challenge Cup back in that 2006–07 season.

The only time that Scarlets looked as if they could get into the match was when Ollie Smith made a failed interception and the referee went to the TMO for a potential yellow card.