Why Darcy Graham’s return is so important to Edinburgh as laceration mishap rules out full-back
Boffelli also included in Gloucester pre-season game
The long-awaited return of Darcy Graham will lift the Edinburgh support at Friday night’s home match against Gloucester and head coach Sean Everitt also believes the winger will bring the best out of his team-mates.
It is Graham’s first match in eight months after a succession of injuries caused him to miss the 2024 Six Nations, Scotland’s summer tour and most of last season’s domestic campaign.
His last game was on January 13 when he started for Edinburgh against Gloucester in a Challenge Cup defeat at the Hive. He will make his comeback against the same opponents in the same stadium as Edinburgh play their first and only pre-season match before the United Rugby Championship campaign begins for them at home to Leinster on September 20.
“Darcy’s come on really well in the pre-season and I think it was really beneficial for him to have that time off to recover from the niggles he’s carried over the past couple of seasons,” said Everitt. “He’s certainly been in good form in training and we’re delighted to have him back.
“He’s one of the best players in his position and he’s certainly showed it in training with his workrate and attitude and it rubs off on the other players and that’s what we need as a group.”
The 39-times capped winger is not the only high-profile player to return. Emiliano Boffelli has not played since April and underwent surgery in the summer to cure a nerve problem in his back but the Argentina international will play at full-back for the second half against Gloucester, with Everitt selecting two different XVs for each half.
“It’s great to have Boff back,” said the coach. “He’s in his second week of return to full training, he’s looking good, he’s looking rejuvenated and he’s in a good mental space.”
Harry Paterson won’t be involved against Gloucester after the full-back cut his foot in unusual circumstances.
“He had a mishap a couple of weeks ago - he got a laceration on his foot from a glass door while we were doing recovery at a gym in town,” explained Everitt. “It was unfortunate for him. It’s in an awkward place - it’s on the heel where your boot rubs up and down. We just don’t feel that he’s fit to play yet.”
Javan Sebastian, the prop, has also been ruled out with injury but should be fit to face Leinster.
New signings Magnus Bradbury, Paul Hill, Ross Thompson, Matt Scott and Mosese Tuipulotu are all selected to start against Gloucester while Ross McCann will come on for the second half. Academy winger Lewis Wells will also play after the interval.
Edinburgh (v Gloucester, Hive Stadium, Friday, 7.30pm):
First half: W Goosen; D Graham, M Tuipulotu, M Scott, D van der Merwe; R Thompson, B Vellacott; P Schoeman, E Ashman, P Hill, M Sykes, G Gilchrist, J Ritchie, H Watson, M Bradbury.
Second half: E Boffelli; R McCann, M Bennett, M Currie, L Wells; B Healy, A Price; B Venter, D Cherry, D Rae, R Carmichael, J Hodgson, T Dodd, C Boyle, B Muncaster.
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