Rugby: Cup debuts for Leonard, Scott, and Gilchrist as Edinburgh face London Irish

Edinburgh Rugby will give Heineken European Cup debuts tomorrow to teenage stand off Harry Leonard, centre Matt Scott and second row Grant Gilchrist when they begin their sectional campaign away to London Irish at the Madejski Stadium, Reading.

Also standing by for a first appearance in the competition will be full back/winger Tom Brown if he comes off the bench.

Coach Michael Bradley has decided to continue to omit nominated skipper Greig Laidlaw in order to keep faith with 19-year-old Leonard who has started the last two games with the captaincy remaining with Ross Ford who led the side to a league victory in Treviso last week.

The only change from the starting line-up in Italy is Stuart McInally returning to the back row for Netani Talei while among the subs Sean Cox returns for his first match following a knee injury sustained against Scarlets last month as does centre James King. Theycome in for Steven Turnbull and Chris Leck respectively.

No fewer than 12 of the starting line-up will be available for Scotland’s Six Nations campaign while Tim Visser is eligible from June leaving Esteban Lozada as odd-man-out in an international context.

Edinburgh: Jim Thompson, Lee Jones, Nick de Luca, Matt Scott, Tim Visser, Harry Leonard, Mike Blair, Allan Jacobsen, Ross Ford, captain, Geoff Cross, Esteban Lozada, Grant Gilchrist, David Denton, Stuart McInally, Ross Rennie. Subs: Steven Lawrie, Kyle Traynor, Lewis Niven, Sean Cox, Roddy Grant, Greig Laidlaw, James King, Tom Brown