GLASGOW Warriors will promote stand-off Ross Thompson from the Scottish Rugby academy programme into the club’s full-time senior squad at the end of the season.

The 21-year-old demonstrated to head coach Danny Wilson that he’s got what it takes to play at pro level with a man-of-the-match performance in his first start for the club against Edinburgh last month.

Thompson began his rugby career at Stewart’s Melville College in Edinburgh, before moving west to study law at Glasgow University. He joined Scottish Premiership side Glasgow Hawks at the start of the 2017-18 season, and was initially surprised to break into the first team straight away, but took it all in his stride. He played two seasons for the Scotland Under-20, one season with the Ayrshire Bulls Super6 side, and has trained regularly with Warriors since becoming a stage-three academy player for the 2018-19 season.

“I’m really excited to be signing my first professional contract,” said Thompson. “My time in the academy has made me realise just how much I want to play for Glasgow. It was a no-brainer for me when the offer came through.”

Elsewhere, Scotland caps Damien Hoyland and Murray McCallum (both returning from ankle injuries), and Fiji internationalist Mesulame Kunavula, will provide some experience to Edinburgh’s “A” team for this afternoon’s training match against Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun.