Rugby: Edinburgh Uni relishing trip to Brazil

Hours after stepping off a plane the students will confront the world's 28th ranking nation in Sao Paolo in the first of two showpiece fixtures that are part of a four-match tour also featuring Brazil under-23s and a regional select. As he prepared to fly out, Johnson, a full-back who has guided the club to a notable season which saw them win the Scottish Universities title with nine wins from 10 matches, said: "Edinburgh University have not toured since visiting Japan in 2008 and since this is the 25th anniversary of our last trip to Brazil it was appropriate that should be the destination.

"However, since that last visit, Brazilian rugby has come on leaps and bounds spurred by a desire to try to keep up with rivals Argentina. Both our matches against their national team will be shown on television and discussions have taken place involving the Scottish Rugby Union in the hope that pictures can be streamed back home. The start of this season saw a bit of upheaval on the coaching front where David Adamson took over and Ian Barnes came in to assist with our forwards. Now we have a total of five coaches.

"Instead of playing against the other Scottish sides next season we'll be in the British Universities Premier D League against the likes of Newcastle, Loughborough and Durham Universities 2nds. That offers us a higher standard and the prospect of more input from players attached to other Scottish clubs in midweek. We've now got an increased standing within our Sports Union, enabling us to have access to regular conditioning courses and physiotherapy.

In a foreword to the University's glossy tour brochure Sami Arap, president of the Brazilian Rugby Union who issued the invitation to tour to mark the silver jubilee of the previous visit, says: "Brazil has reached a record 10,000 players (10 per cent female). There are approximately 115 clubs. The Board is confident that with the full and active support of top tier international coaches and the continuing visit of foreign clubs and touring sides Brazil will rapidly overcome Chile and Uruguay as well as reduce substantially the gap with Argentina (at world No 8 a place above Scotland)."