Glasgow take on Leinster at Firhill tonight (ko 7.05pm) and Ruaridh has been given the nod ahead of Duncan Weir. Ruaridh and Duncan are vying to replace the Magners League top points scorer Dan Parks who has joined Cardiff Blues.
Ruaridh told the Evening Times: “Obviously it is a huge challenge to follow in Dan’s footsteps, but I am just delighted to have been given the nod.
“The competition between Duncan Weir and me has been intense for the No.10 jersey.
“With all the changes at the club it is the start of a new era and I want to play my part in getting Glasgow off to a winning start.”
“Goal-kicking is a confidence thing. To a certain extent if the first one goes over you feed off the confidence that gives you and it is easier to get into your rhythm.
“But I have been working very hard on that and hopefully when the opportunity comes against Leinster tonight I will be able to show just how much I have improved my kicking.
“But that is only one facet of a stand-off’s game and I like to think I play pretty flat to the gain line and that will give us an extra dimension this time around."
15 Bernardo Stortoni CAPTAIN
14 DTH van der Merwe
13 Max Evans
12 Graeme Morrison
11 Federico Aramburu
10 Ruaridh Jackson
9 Henry Pyrgos
1 Jon Welsh
2 Fergus Thomson
3 Moray Low
4 Tom Ryder
5 Richie Gray
6 Ryan Wilson
7 Calum Forrester
8 Richie Vernon
Replacements
16 Pat MacArthur
17 Ed Kalman
18 Ryan Grant
19 Aly Muldowney
20 Robert Harley
21 Duncan Weir
22 Hefin O'Hare
23 Peter Murchie
15 Luke Fitzgerald
14 Shane Horgan
13 Eoin O’Malley
12 Fergus McFadden
11 Niall Morris
10 Isa Nacewa
9 Isaac Boss
1 Heinke van der Merwe
2 Richardt Strauss
3 Simon Shawe
4 Nathan Hines
5 Ed O'Donoghue
6 Dominic Ryan
7 Sean O'Brien CAPTAIN
8 Jamie Heaslip
Replacements
16 John Fogarty
17 Jack McGrath
18 Ben Prescott
19 Mariano Galarza
20 Stephen Keogh
21 Paul O'Donohoe
22 Ian Madigan
23 Eamonn Sheridan