Richard Cockerill eyes Glasgow scrum-halves for Edinburgh

Edinburgh Rugby head coach Richard Cockerill wants to sign a scrum-half from Glasgow. Picture: SNS

After securing a first-ever Guinness Pro14 play-off appearance and a return to European Champions Cup rugby, Cockerill is preparing his side for Saturday’s quarter-final showdown against Munster in  Limerick.

However, in the week it was confirmed Sam Hidalgo-Clyne will be leaving for Scarlets in the summer, the coach said he had already raised the possibility with SRU bosses that one avenue for strengthening in the scrum-half position could be provided by Glasgow, who Edinburgh defeated at the weekend to regain the 1872 Cup.

Glasgow currently have Scotland’s top three  choices at No 9 in the shape of Ali Price, Henry Pyrgos and George Horne and  Cockerill made no secret of the fact he’d like to get one.

“Yeah, it is sensible, too,” he said. “Only two are going to play each week and one won’t be getting any game time. A bit like [hooker] George Turner going from here [to Glasgow] last year because there is no point having Ross Ford, Stuart McInally and George Turner.

“It would make sense. There is no point having three national nines in one team. However those are discussions that are in process.”

Cockerill reported that full-back Blair Kinghorn has returned after recovering from the bout of food poisoning that kept him out of the 1872 Cup clash.

The coach said his players must now embrace the big occasion after working so hard to get there throughout what has already been a 28-game season.

“Thomond Park’s sold out. They’re a big team, big European side used to the occasions. We’re not, but if we’re good enough to beat Glasgow, we’re good enough to beat Munster,” said Cockerill.

“It’ll be a tough order to do that, but why not, we’ve got to go with the mindset that we’re going to go and win.”