Edinburgh's best starting XV for 26/27 season as it stands after early recruitment drive

Edinburgh supporters have every right to be excited ahead of next season with some marquee signings already announced.

A disappointing 2025/26 campaign, which saw them miss out on a top eight URC finish, ended with defeat at home to Connacht last weekend. However, there were a handful of individuals who managed to shine and no small amount of emerging talents making early breakthroughs into the senior team.

It will be a long summer before they kick off the new season away to Ulster on September 25 and there may well be even more new faces showing up at the Hive on top of the ones we already know. With that in mind, we take a look at how we think the current strongest starting XV for Sean Everitt’s side looks at this moment in time and analyse some of the areas where they could perhaps do with a bit more depth.

Front row

The front row is potentially the area of the pitch where Edinburgh are currently looking most stacked. That being said, maybe one more experienced prop wouldn’t go amiss come international call-ups if there is room in the budget.

Pierre Schoeman continues as the undisputed first choice in number one jersey for both club and country and the arrival of Alec Hepburn from Scarlets provides great depth, replacing the departing Boan Venter. On the other side of the scrum though is where things are looking really good for Sean Everitt’s side.

They currently have three tight-head props who you could make a case for being the current starter in the position. D’Arcy Rae and Paul Hill have bags of experience while Ollie Blyth-Lafferty has emerged as arguably the most exciting young prospect from the current crop to break through last season, which is really saying something.

Hooker also looks solid with Ewan Ashman nailed on in that jersey having been Edinburgh’s player of the season this year. Dylan Richardson and Patrick Harrison, both Scotland internationals, give them really impressive depth.

Second row

Lock is probably the area of biggest concern at the moment. If Edinburgh are going to add another big name signing then this is probably the position to do it in.

Grant Gilchrist continues as the experienced senior head in the engine room and is complemented well by the athletic Marshall Sykes. Injury severely hampered Sam Skinner’s time at the Hive and the former Exeter Chief is leaving the club.

Glen Young and Callum Hunter-Hill are both solid back-ups and you have Euan McVie and Rob Carmichael beyond that. However, a few injuries especially around international matches would leave them very short, so adding another experienced second rower to the mix, filling the gap left by Skinner, would be a good move.

Back row

Back row is an interesting one as it is certainly a strong position for Edinburgh but perhaps one where they could look to add just a little more depth. They might not want to do that though and instead back some of the exciting young talents who have emerged over the last 12 months.

Even at 21-years-old you would expect Freddy Douglas to be the starting seven next season, so impactful is the former Stewart Melville’s pupil. Luke Crosbie brings excellent work-rate on top of a big frame to the six jersey then you’ve got skipper Magnus Bradbury, another individual who stood out last season, at number eight.

Ben Muncaster and Liam McConnell, both Scotland internationals, will be chasing hard to capture those starting jerseys and Tom Currie has emerged as one to watch. The 21-year-old is showing early signs of being a huge player for the capital club, and possibly Scotland, in the future. They have a decent pool of players even after that but a few injuries, again particularly during international windows, could leave them just a little light.

Half backs

Edinburgh have addressed this position early and look all set for next season. Ben Vellacott and Ross Thomson are already there with two big signings coming in to compete with them.

Louie Chapman, arriving from Super Rugby franchise Crusaders, may initially find himself on the bench as he acclimatises to the URC but will be expected to overtake Vellacott at scrum-half sooner rather than later. The former Wasps man is an experienced campaigner and a leader in the squad so, either way, when you add in young Hector Patterson things are looking good for Sean Everitt.

At stand-off, Thomson has put in some good performances this season but James Grayson is a real marquee signing for Edinburgh so he will almost certainly be coming in to start the season in the ten jersey. Again, having someone with Thomson’s experience at this level to provide competition will be pleasing for the coaching staff.

Centres

It’s fair to say that the signing of Riley Higgins got the rugby world talking. The former New Zealand under 20 international was on track for a senior All Blacks call-up before injury derailed his breakthrough season with Super Rugby franchise Hurricanes.

He isn’t expected to be available for the first few matches as he will likely have to see out his NPC commitments with Wellington. Once he does arrive in the Scottish capital you expect Sean Everitt will look to get him straight into the starting XV as soon as possible.

Matt Currie would be our pick at 13 which then leaves you with the versatile James Lang, experienced Piers O’Conor and the often impressive Mosese Tuipulotu. With that in mind, the club can be content with their depth in the middle of the park.

Back three

Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe will start the season as Edinburgh’s first choices on the wings and, if both play to the best of their abilities and stay fit, will be near impossible to displace. However, the incoming Geordie Gwynn will have something to say about that.

The Scotland youth cap is tipped for big things and will almost certainly get his chance during the Autumn international period if not before. Another signing at winger maybe wouldn’t go a miss but, given how strong their current starting options are plus the versatility of other backs and a good handful of emerging talents, it’s not a priority.

Full-back is well stocked between the experienced and versatile former New Zealand youth cap Wes Goosen and Scotland cap Harry Paterson. You also have 20-year old Jack Brown coming into the senior set up.

Edinburgh Rugby strongest XV for the 2026/27 season as it stands: 1. Pierre Schoeman, 2. Ewan Ashman, 3. Paul Hill, 4. Marshall Sykes, 5. Grant Gilchrist, 6. Luke Crosbie, 7. Freddy Douglas, 8. Magnus Bradbury, 9. Ben Vellacott, 10. James Grayson, 11. Duhan van der Merwe, 12. Riley Higgins, 13. Matt Currie, 14. Darcy Graham, 15. Wes Goosen.

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