Squad 2025/26

[Wottie]

Squad is nearly there for next season:

L/H Props: Schoeman, Venter, Whitcombe & Jones (Hislop - TBC)
Hooker: Richardson, Ashman, Harrison
T/H Props: Hill, Rae, Litterick, Williams (Sebastian - TBC)
Locks: Gilchrist, Skinner, Sykes, Hodgeson, Carmichael (Young - TBC)
Blind / No.8: Crosbie, Bradbury, Muncaster, Dodd, McConnell, T. Currie
Open: Watson, Boyle, Douglas
Scrum Half: Vellacott, Sheil, McAlpine
Stand Off: Thomson, Healey, Scott
Centres: Lang, Tuipuloto, M Currie (Bennett - TBC)
Wing: VDM, Graham, McCann, Satala, Henry, Doyle
F/B: Goosen, Paterson (Bofelli & Sweeney - TBC)

Starting to look like all the re-signings may have been done? Guess we will know tomorrow or Thursday before the Ulster game. If so, feels like we may need another signing in the centre and possibly the back three?

[liveinhope]

Looks like your suggestion has just been covered by the announcement this morning of the very experienced utility back Piers O'Conor. Remember Cammy Scott can also cover centre and full back.
I suspect Mark Bennett will be on the way out unless his contract extended through next season.

[Wottie]

Looks like your suggestion has just been covered by the announcement this morning of the very experienced utility back Piers O'Conor. Remember Cammy Scott can also cover centre and full back.
I suspect Mark Bennett will be on the way out unless his contract extended through next season.

Suspect he's been brought in as a centre where he played at 12 and 13 (occasionally on wing) for Bristol before moving to Connacht for last season where they tended to use him at full back. I saw a fair bit of him at Bristol primarily a 13 for me. Suspect that may be it for next season. Could probably have taken another back three but they are probably confident enough with Jack Brown to step up having seen his performances in what were big games recently.

[liveinhope]

Looks like your suggestion has just been covered by the announcement this morning of the very experienced utility back Piers O'Conor. Remember Cammy Scott can also cover centre and full back.
I suspect Mark Bennett will be on the way out unless his contract extended through next season.

[dolf_lundgren]

It looks on paper at least that we go into next season weaker than this season. Having said that we havent really seen Scott, Boffelli or Bennet who are on paper all very good players.

I do worry about scrum half, we feel very light there. The form Price has come into recetly is what we need, I dont think Vellacott and Shiel are capable of playing to that level consistently, both good players though. The ability of Shiel has never been in question, it has been his decision making for me that has held him back. His try was outstanding at the weekend, but when you look back he was well offside, and if the try was chalked off and he was penalised, we may well have been talking about a poor decision. But it wasnt so we will take it.

I feel we need a lift for everyone at the end of the season, so far there is no signing which really gets the juices flowing, all good with potential or solid players. Possiibly slightly unfair on Richardson.

I would think there will be one or two more to come when the ST sales are nearing an end. Hopefully its a good one.

I cant see any way that Bennet stays, what would be the point? His face clearly doesnt fit and from his body language at games he left a few weeks/months ago mentally.

[The Feral Goat]

Jamie Ritchie, Mark Bennett, Dave Cherry, Matt Scott, Jamie Hodgson, Ali Price, Emiliano Boffelli, Robin Hislop, Javan Sebastian, Jake Henry, Nathan Sweeney and Jack Hocking will all move on at the end of the current campaign.

Think that is us on 42 confirmed with signings and academy promotions (43 with Doyle but he is into academy) so must be about done.

[The Incredible Shug]

So that's

1. Schoeman | Venter | Whitcombe | Jones
2. Richardson | Ashman | Harrison
3. Hill | Rae | Litterick | Williams
4. Skinner | Sykes | Carmichael
5. Gilchrist | Young
6. Crosbie | Muncaster | McConnell
7. Watson | Douglas | Boyle
8. Bradbury | Dodd | T Currie

9. Vellacott | Shiel | McAlpine
10. Thompson | Healy
11. van der Merwe | Satala | Brown
12. Tuipulotu | Lang | Scott
13. M Currie | O'Conor
14. Graham | McCann
15. Goosen | Paterson | Doyle

[Wottie]

So that's

1. Schoeman | Venter | Whitcombe | Jones
2. Richardson | Ashman | Harrison
3. Hill | Rae | Litterick | Williams
4. Skinner | Sykes | Carmichael
5. Gilchrist | Young
6. Crosbie | Muncaster | McConnell
7. Watson | Douglas | Boyle
8. Bradbury | Dodd | T Currie

9. Vellacott | Shiel | McAlpine
10. Thompson | Healy
11. van der Merwe | Satala | Brown
12. Tuipulotu | Lang | Scott
13. M Currie | O'Conor
14. Graham | McCann
15. Goosen | Paterson | Doyle

Don't think Brown has a Pro deal yet. Doyle is a wing and Scott a 10 that can play 15.
We look set in the pack but maybe look one signing short in the back 3. Could easily see Brown stepping up mid season however. Would love to see Chris Harris come north for a season (or two), morphing into a defence coaching role with the SRU. Our injuries in position 11 to 15 have been pretty bad this season and the above looks a little light to me against that backdrop.

[liveinhope]

You're forgetting Satala ,the other wing signed this week with Doyle. Jack Brown clearly good enough for a pro deal but sill on an Academy set up I presume.Finn Thomson also Academy.What about McVie in the 2nd row-still Academy?
Like Glasgow though seems like a slimmed down squad.If injuries (for both) anything like this year we'll be dipping into the Academy quite often for a fit 23.

[The Feral Goat]

Lewis Wells is still on an academy deal as well but looks ready for pro-rugby from what we have seen so i think we probably have enough in the back 3 assuming they actually play these guys.

[Wottie]

Yup, looking back the last three seasons we have had pro squads of 43, 44 & 45 this season. Sitting at 42 for next season as things stand with baked in pro deals for J Blyth-Lafferty and Ollie Duncan for next season. Bit of a cut expected due to SRU finances. We must be due a light injury season surely? Had a few tough ones of late.

[The Feral Goat]

Couple more young SQ players join for next season

https://edinburghrugby.org/news-and-fea ... and-white/

[The Feral Goat]

Callum Hunter-Hill rejoins on a 2 year deal.

Played well at Sarries could be a decent signing if he can get that form back.

[The Chiel]

Callum Hunter-Hill rejoins on a 2 year deal.

Played well at Sarries could be a decent signing if he can get that form back.

More importantly, he slots into Dave Cherry's role as the ex London Scottish player for me to get behind !

[The Chiel]

Crossing fingers that Muncaster's injury this morning isn't as serious as it looked. Couldn't put any weight on his leg when being helped off.