Squad 2025/26

[bignose]

at 9 we only have Vellacott and Shiel who appears to largely play only when needs must.

Shiel is/was a very good scrum half who would have flourished in any system that allowed a player to play what was in front of them rather than following the robotic pattern dictated from our coaching staff. Whenever he comes on, you see him spotting opportunities and making breaks but that doesn't fit the SRU/ER "blueprint". I suspect that he's too institutionalised now to ever be redeemable, and I hear from behind the scenes that he's just not keen to go play somewhere else anyway. It's a shame, like it has been for so many other players at Edinburgh

[bignose]

All the 10s extended

Healy - 1 year
Scott - 2 year
Thompson - 2year

Would like to see Cammy Scott get a proper run of games. Bit suprised Healy has extended as he appears out of favour.

That's the nail banged in firmly on the coffin of multiple season ticket renewals, then...

[The Chiel]

According to RugbyPass, we're signing 24 year old loose head James Whitcombe from Leicester. SQ through a Scottish granny (there's recent precedent for that working out quite well ! )
5 starts this year and 11 off the bench. Wasn't part of the Leicester pack that was blown away against Glasgow.

Edit - now on Edinburgh twitter : https://x.com/EdinburghRugby/status/1915405501027815839

[Pitfitter1105]

Also signed
Scottish qualified tighthead prop Rhys Litterick joins from Cardiff Rugby this summer on a two year deal!
Seen on FB.

[Frank]

Always happy to see new signings, although I must admit I didn't realise they were Scottish qualified. We're well served in both positions, but gives us some strength in depth.

[Wottie]

Always happy to see new signings, although I must admit I didn't realise they were Scottish qualified. We're well served in both positions, but gives us some strength in depth.

Sebastian and Hislop out of contract at the end of the season so could still be some announcements and possibly moves in the front row.

[dolf_lundgren]

Both look like decent signings with potential to be very good.

Pro sport is brutal, and it seems that Williams, Hislop and Sebastian are not really rated with limited game time.

Hard to judge until the full squad is settled. Currently we do seem to be continuing to focus on the forwards. !75 sure that will change

[The Feral Goat]

Sounds like Watson is staying, but Boffelli likely away.

https://www.theoffsideline.com/knee-inj ... HsmPuOXUNw

[joe soap]

Both look like decent signings with potential to be very good.

Pro sport is brutal, and it seems that Williams, Hislop and Sebastian are not really rated with limited game time.

Hard to judge until the full squad is settled. Currently we do seem to be continuing to focus on the forwards. !75 sure that will change

Williams has never been near the standard needed. Bomber is 33, good lad but I think only ever a short term fix. Sebastian though is IMHO the best TH at the club, certainly the best SQ TH and replacing him with an unproven Cardiff reserve is........................I hope Javan stays

[dolf_lundgren]

Not sure about that, Paul Hill i think is by a fair bt our best TH, with no a hueg amount between Rae & Sebastien, both hold up the scrum well, Rae probably offers a bit more about the pitch, if Williams is still in contract I dont think they can all stay, it is probably timing as much as anything in offering contracts. Litterick is a decent player, and young enough to keep improving. So probably a good move.

Good that Watson is staying, assuming he wont be as expensive as previously when he was at his peak, he is still a very good player though. Might well be related to the injuries that Boyle and Crosbie have and when they will be back. Douglas is the coming man, but we still need numbers and quality. Not sure what the situation is with Tom Dod either.

Not a huge shock about Boff, he has bene very good for us, but also had a nightmare with injury, probably too big a risk to offer a new contract to, also with Paterson back and Brown emerging we have good options for now and the future.

[The Feral Goat]

https://edinburghrugby.org/news-and-fea ... h-players/

Tom Currie and scrum-half Conor McAlpine have both signed new two-year pro deals

Loosehead prop Mikey Jones a one-year extension

Edinburgh Rugby pro-academy extensions

hooker Jerry Blyth-Lafferty,
back-row Oliver Duncan,
scrum-half Hector Patterson
winger Lewis Wells

lock Euan McVie
Full-back Jack Brown

"Full-back Jack Brown, 19, who has impressed since joining the pro-academy ahead of the 2023/24 season and earned his first senior start away to Zebre Parma last month, has signed a new two-year deal to remain with the club.

Joining him in signing a new two-year extension is imposing lock Euan McVie, 20, who arrived at the club after featuring for Edinburgh Accies and Heriot’s Rugby, impressing in the Edinburgh ‘A’ pack."

Assume Brown and McVie are also Academy deals. no mention of Ollie Blyth-Lafferty either but i think he is possibly still in contract with the academy anyway.

[Wottie]

Balance of re-signings / leavers to be announced before the Ulster game, with the following players out of contract and still to be announced:

Sebastian, Hislop, Young, Dodd, Boyle, Crosbie (if on a 3yr deal), M Scott, Bennett, Boff & Sweeney.

With the recent prop signings and Jones extended, I suspect Sebastian and Hislop will be moving on. Boyle, Young, Dodd and of course Crosbie if OOC will hopefully all be retained. Expect Scott and Bennett will not be renewed and we will probably have to add to resources there if they are. Not sure the Academy centres are ready to step up. Would love to see Boff back fit and staying but can't see it happening and Sweeney sadly has had a string of nasty injuries. Not long to wait now until we see the final squad make up for next season. Finally, hope they get someone in to coach the line-out as it's becoming a bit of an achilles heel for us (plus Cherry leaving will further accentuate).

[dolf_lundgren]

Crosbie is probably the big one there still to re-sign. Hopefully Boyle can comeback fully firing again.

Not sure about Glen Young, he has dropped down the pecking order a fair bit, with Carmichael looking good recently.

Agree Scott and Bennet just dont seem to be in the mix, which is odd, as they both would have plenty to add. With a few more wingers coming in, Currie can hopefully concentrate on centre, with Lang and Mosese, I do think we need another experienced centre.

It does look like we are going hard on the SQ route, which may be a Nucifora influence. If he can follow the Irish model a bit further and get us Barrett for next year that would be very welcome!

[Wottie]

Not sure about Glen Young, he has dropped down the pecking order a fair bit, with Carmichael looking good recently.

He has had a long time out with injuries but he is a big lump and was pretty effective before then. I think he probably has more potential then Hodgson and Sykes and is well worth another contract I think.

[dolf_lundgren]

It sure about potential, he is 30, Hodgson 27 and Sykes 25.

I really rate Hodgson, he felt like the natural successor to Gilchrist, seems to have fallen out of favour too, although he has been injured.