Ross Thompson to miss start of Glasgow Warriors' season after surgery

Glasgow Warriors will be without stand-off Ross Thompson for the opening rounds of the new United Rugby Championship season after the international stand-off underwent surgery on a back problem.

Ross Thompson will miss the start of the season. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group)

The operation had been planned for some time and the player went under the knife on his return from Scotland’s tour of South America.

Thompson played in the A international against Chile and in the second and third Tests against Argentina as Scotland lost the series 2-1.

The operation was a success but Thompson will need time out to recuperate and rehab. He will miss Glasgow’s pre-season friendlies against Worcester Warriors in Inverness on September 2 and at home to Ulster seven days later as well as the opening URC fixtures.

Joel Hodgson has joined Glasgow on a short-term deal following his release by Newcastle Falcons. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Under the leadership of new head coach Franco Smith, Glasgow will kick off the new league campaign against Smith’s former club Benetton in Treviso on September 16, then welcome Cardiff to Scotstoun for their first home game on September 23 before travelling to Wales to face Ospreys on October 1.

In Thompson’s absence, the Warriors have brought in experienced stand-off Joel Hodgson on a short-term deal to provide back-up to Duncan Weir and Domingo Miotti, the club’s other two fly-halves. Weir is currently recovering from a calf injury but should be fit for the new season while Miotti has returned to Scotstoun after featuring for Argentina against Scotland in the second Test in Salta last month.

Hodgson, 30, was released by Newcastle Falcons at the end of the season, his second spell with the Tyneside club. He also has Premiership experience with Northampton Saints and had a spell at Yorkshire Carnegie.

Franco Smith, the new Glasgow Warriors head coach. (Picture: Ross MacDonald - SNS)

Also joining Glasgow on short-term deals are the Argentina international prop Lucio Sordoni and Scottish winger Logan Trotter.

Sordoni, 24, has Super Rugby experience with Jaguares and Australian outfit Melbourne Rebels and was with French side Mont de Marsan last season but did not play due to injury. He will provide cover at tighthead as Glasgow nurse fellow Argentinian Enrique Pieretto back to full fitness. Pieretto injured his shoulder playing with the second-string Argentina XV in the summer and will be out until November following surgery.

Trotter, meanwhile, returns to Scotstoun after impressing in Super6 for Stirling Wolves. The former Scotland Under-20 winger also spent last pre-season with Glasgow but injury scuppered any hopes of winning a longer-term deal. He now gets the chance to impress Smith whose appointment was confirmed last week.

The former South Africa international still has a few weeks to serve in his old job as Italian Rugby’s head of high performance but will be in situ as Glasgow prepare for their pre-season fixtures.

Recruitment for the new season was done under the leadership of his predecessor Danny Wilson so Smith will have to work with the players already assembled.

Glasgow’s squad has been bolstered by the signing of centre/full-back Huw Jones, back at the club after a season with Harlequins, prop Allan Dell from London Irish, Tongan back-rower Sione Vailanun from Worcester Warriors and locks JP du Preez and Sintu Manjezi, from Sale Sharks and Vodacom Bulls respectively.

Warriors have also handed pro deals to academy graduates Max Williamson, Alex Samuel, Gregor Brown and Angus Fraser.