David Davies to step down as Edinburgh Rugby MD

EDINBURGH Rugby are looking for a new managing director after David Davies announced his decision to step down at the end of the season in the wake of a players’ revolt.

The former Wasps and QPR chief executive joined the BT Murrayfield-based pro team two years ago but on Saturday evening announced he would be leaving at the end of the month.

As exclusively revealed in our sister paper Scotland on Sunday in early April, there was an outcry from the Edinburgh players when popular team manager Lynsey Dingwall was sacked in March after working with the club for 14 years.

Davies said in a statement: “I would like to thank the staff and fans at Edinburgh Rugby for their support over the past two years. The playing and coaching staff have made real progress over that period and I wish them all the best for the future.

“I am proud to have led Edinburgh. However, recent media speculation about my role has been unhelpful as I firmly believe the public interest should be in the team and not the off-field staff. Therefore I have decided to leave at the end of May.”

On 23 March, the Edinburgh players sent an email to the board and the council of the Scottish Rugby Union which read: “We feel the dismissal of Lynsey Dingwall was unfair and unjustified.

“Lynsey was part of Edinburgh Rugby for 14 years. Over that period she worked tirelessly with and for the players and was hugely respected within the organisation.

“We feel she has been the victim of a personal attack.”

Edinburgh are eighth in the Guinness Pro12 and trailing Connacht and Scarlets in the race for a top-six position going into Saturday’s final regular season game at home to Leinster.

If Edinburgh finish seventh they will enter the play-offs system, with a rematch against Stoop conquerors Gloucester at Kingsholm first up.