‘Would love to play Test rugby’: Scotland have a new full-back option from next month

The New Zealand-born player will become eligible for Scotland next month under the five-year residency rule and Glasgow head coach Franco Smith believes he is good enough to earn a place in Gregor Townsend’s squad.

McKay, 28, joined the Warriors in the autumn of 2021 and established himself as one of their most important players, helping them win the United Rugby Championship in 2024.

Smith is reluctant to become involved in matters of the national team but believes McKay is well equipped to play at Test level.

Josh McKay is ‘very much embedded in Scotland’

“I can't speak on behalf of Gregor and Scotland at this stage,” said Smith. “I think he's put up his hand in various games through various seasons to be considered. Is he good enough? He is, but it's something that is not regularly discussed.

“I think he's very much embedded in Scotland, and I think he loves playing with the players that we've got here. He's got enough people around him that would maybe inspire him to go and play for the country. I think he's somebody that would love to play Test match rugby, no doubt.”

McKay, who joined Glasgow from the Christchurch-based Crusaders, reckons his family emigrated from Scotland to New Zealand in the 1850s. The connection is too distant for him to qualify via the family link which cuts off at grandparents but he will soon fulfil the residency criterion.

“It will be five years in November this year, so we will see what happens,” he told the Glasgow Warriors website earlier this year. “I don’t want to get ahead of myself.

“But if the opportunity did come around that would be amazing. International rugby is on everyone’s radar. It might not be the most conventional route, but I would be super proud if it all worked out. It would be massive.”

McKay will have another chance to prove his worth on Friday evening when Glasgow host Connacht at Scotstoun. The full-back retains his place but there are changes around him following last weekend’s home draw with Ulster.

George Horne decision explained

George Horne drops to the bench to accommodate Jamie Dobie’s switch from wing to scrum-half, with Fergus Watson coming into the side on the left wing.

Smith was at pains to point out that Horne’s demotion was nothing to do with the player’s loss of temper against Ulster when he threw the ball towards opposition hooker Tom Stewart after Glasgow had been awarded a penalty. The penalty was reversed and Ulster went on to score a few phases later, leading Horne to apologise to his team-mates.

“He cares so much,” stressed Smith. “Everybody feels like he feels sometimes during the season with the frustration boiling over. He's human after all.

“He's played so many games for us, and he plays so well. It's absolutely nothing to do with that. I didn't even have to tell George that action before half-time was not good enough. He knew straight away, and he was apologetic for it, and I understand that.

“I've seen Scottie Scheffler, who's a great golfer and a Christian in so many ways, sometimes get upset with his caddie. So it does happen.”

Dobie has made a fine start to the season on the wing, scoring three tries in the first two URC games, but reverts to his original position for the Connacht match, a change Smith said he had been planning for some time.

Stafford McDowall ruled out

Stafford McDowall, who has captained Glasgow this season in the absence of the injured Kyle Steyn, is missing due to the head injury he sustained against Ulster. Ollie Smith comes in at outside centre, with Sione Tuipulotu taking the armband.

There are changes up front too, with Nathan McBeth starting at loosehead prop in place of the benched Patrick Schickerling and Scott Cummings coming into the second row as Gregor Brown also rotates to the bench.

A back-row reshuffle sees Matt Fagerson move from eight to six, with Macenzzie Duncan taking over at No 8. Rory Darge returns to the starting side at seven.

Glasgow defeated Connacht at Scotstoun in the URC quarter-final in May but were made to work all the way. The Irish side beat the Warriors in Galway during the regular season.

Bundee Aki will make his first appearance of the season for Connacht, with the experienced Ireland and Lions centre starting at 13.

Glasgow Warriors v Connacht line-ups

URC round 3, Scotstoun Stadium, Friday, 7.45.

Glasgow Warriors: Josh McKay; Kyle Rowe, Ollie Smith, Sione Tuipulotu (capt), Fergus Watson; Dan Lancaster, Jamie Dobie; Nathan McBeth, Gregor Hiddleston, Fin Richardson, Max Williamson, Scott Cummings, Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge, Macenzzie Duncan. Replacements: Seb Stephen, Patrick Schickerling, Sam Talakai, Gregor Brown, Jare Oguntibeju, Ally Miller, George Horne, Bayley Kuenzle.

Connacht Rugby: Josh Ioane; Shayne Bolton, Bundee Aki, Cathal Forde, Mack Hansen; Ciarán Frawley, Caolin Blade; Billy Bohan, Eoin de Buitléar, Sam Illo, Darragh Murray, Niall Murray, Cian Prendergast (capt), Paul Boyle, Sean Jansen. Replacements: Matthew Victory, Francois van Wyk, Finlay Bealham, Josh Murphy, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Colm Reilly, Sean Naughton, Sam Gilbert.

Referee: Ben Breakspear (WRU).