Van der Merwe returns as Schoeman and Bradbury hit 150

8 May 2026

Duhan van der Merwe returns from injury to start as Edinburgh Rugby name four changes for Saturday's BKT United Rugby Championship clash against Dragons RFC at Rodney Parade (Saturday 9 May, kick-off 7.45pm) – live on Premier Sports.

The British & Irish Lion wing makes his first appearance for the capital club since scoring against Leinster in Dublin back in January, having been sidelined since with an ankle injury.

Harry Paterson returns to the starting XV after missing action since March with a quad injury, coming in at full-back with Piers O’Conor rotating to the replacements.

The Scottish Building Society Player of the Month for March takes his place in a back three alongside Scotland’s all-time top try-scorers, van der Merwe and Darcy Graham, as Edinburgh look to make it three wins on the bounce.

Ross Thompson gets the nod at stand-off in place of Cammy Scott, while Callum Hunter-Hill comes into the second row, with Marshall Sykes named among the replacements.

Two Edinburgh Rugby stalwarts reach landmark appearances on Saturday night, with loosehead Pierre Schoeman set to make his 150th appearance for the club from the first whistle and club captain Magnus Bradbury reaching the same milestone from the bench.

Head Coach Sean Everitt said: “The mood in camp has been really positive after two excellent home performances. Back-to-back wins have given the group genuine momentum and there’s a real energy about the place – some of our younger players in particular have been outstanding and they’re driving standards every day in training.

“Going to Rodney Parade is a different challenge entirely. It’s a difficult venue, a passionate crowd, and Dragons will be fired up on home soil. But we believe in what we’re doing right now and we’d love to make it three wins on the bounce.”

In the midfield, Findlay Thomson, 21, continues alongside recently re-signed Mosese Tuipulotu in the centres, with Hector Patterson – who has scored two tries in his first two appearances for Edinburgh – again selected at scrum-half alongside Thompson.

Ewan Ashman – named BKT Player of the Match in each of those two home wins and the scorer of three tries across them – starts at hooker alongside Schoeman and Ollie Blyth-Lafferty in an otherwise unchanged front-row.

Hunter-Hill partners double centurion Grant Gilchrist in the second row, with Gilchrist again named captain.

An unchanged back-row sees Glen Young – who crossed for a try in the win over the Sharks – start at blindside flanker, with Tom Currie, 21, at number 8 and Freddy Douglas, 20, completing the back-row at openside.

Edinburgh Rugby team to face Dragons RFC at Rodney Parade in the BKT United Rugby Championship
Saturday 9 May (kick-off 7.45pm) – live on Premier Sports

15. Harry Paterson (27)

14. Darcy Graham (96)
13. Mosese Tuipulotu (28)
12. Findlay Thomson (4)
11. Duhan van der Merwe (112)

10. Ross Thompson (43)
9. Hector Patterson (2)

1. Pierre Schoeman (149)
2. Ewan Ashman (52)
3. Ollie Blyth-Lafferty (13)
4. Callum Hunter-Hill (34)
5. Grant Gilchrist (232) CAPTAIN
6. Glen Young (68)
7. Freddy Douglas (23)
8. Tom Currie (6)

Replacements

16. Dylan Richardson (14)
17. Boan Venter (106)
18. Paul Hill (33)
19. Marshall Sykes (96)
20. Liam McConnell (22)
21. Magnus Bradbury (149)
22. Charlie Shiel (92)
23. Piers O’Conor (19)

Unavailable: Charlie McCaig (knee), Rhys Litterick (achilles), Rob Carmichael (wrist), Luke Crosbie (hamstring), Sam Skinner (hamstring), Paddy Harrison (back), Wes Goosen (hand), Matt Currie (hamstring), Mikey Jones (bicep), Ben Muncaster (ankle), James Lang (ankle), D’arcy Rae (calf), Connor Boyle (concussion), Ben Vellacott (shoulder).