2023/24 Pro-Academy intake confirmed

27 Jun 2023

Edinburgh Rugby can today confirm its Pro-Academy intake for the 2023/24 season.

The group of 15 players will work under the tutelage of Academy Coach Rob Chrystie, training alongside the club’s senior players while participating in the FOSROC Super Series.

11 new players join the club this summer, alongside current academy players Robbie Deans (loosehead prop), Harri Morris (hooker), Liam McConnell (back-row) and Finn Douglas (winger).

There is a strong brotherly connection within the incoming players, with siblings Jerry and Ollie Blyth-Lafferty both joining. The duo both came through the ranks at Boroughmuir RFC; Jerry (hooker) recently featured for Scotland U20s and Edinburgh ‘A’, while younger brother Ollie (tighthead) was with Scotland in the U18 Six Nations Festival in Dublin.

Flanker Tom Currie (flanker) joins his brother and first team centre Matt Currie at the club, having followed his brother’s footsteps from Merchiston Castle School to Edinburgh Rugby. Currie played alongside fellow flanker McConnell in the Scotland U18s, and captained Edinburgh U20s in their intercity match against Glasgow.

A further trio of Scotland U18 forwards also join. Euan McVie (lock) arrives having featured for Heriot’s Rugby in the FOSROC Super Series Sprint, after playing the majority of his rugby with Edinburgh Accies.

Stewart’s Melville product Freddie Douglas (flanker) adds to the back-row stocks alongside Ollie Duncan (number 8), with the latter captaining Edinburgh U18s to their recent triumph in the Junior Intercity derby.

In the backs, Scotland U20s and Stirling Wolves scrum-half Finlay Burgess joins from Glasgow Warriors. Hector Paterson – also a scrum-half – joins having represented Scotland U18s at the Six Nations Festival, with the borderer bringing senior rugby experience after featuring for Premiership winners Hawick this season past.

Stand-off Isaac Coates – who recently impressed for Scotland U18 and Merchiston Castle School – also arrives in the backs, where he will be joined by the familiar face of Jack Hocking (centre), whom he partnered in the backline in Dublin.

Hocking featured for Edinburgh U18s in the recent Junior Intercity triumph and is equally adept in the midfield or at stand-off, having developed at the prestigious Ipswich Grammar School.

Full-back Jack Brown also links up with his Scotland U18 teammates, fresh from scoring his first try for Watsonians in the FOSROC Super Series Sprint.

On the arrivals to the club, Rob Chrystie added: “It’s an exciting set of players that are joining us this summer from around Edinburgh and the Borders. All of them have experience in a Scotland age-grade environment, with the majority having played senior rugby at a very young age.

“A number of the players impressed while playing for Edinburgh ‘A’ and for their respective clubs in the FOSROC Super Series Sprint, so we’re excited to see how they all develop while at the club.”

Edinburgh Rugby Pro-Academy 2023/24

Robbie Deans (Loosehead Prop)
Harri Morris (Hooker)
Jerry Blyth-Lafferty (Hooker)
Ollie Blyth-Lafferty (Tighthead Prop)
Euan McVie (Lock)
Tom Currie (Flanker)
Liam McConnell (Flanker)
Freddie Douglas (Flanker)
Ollie Duncan (Number Eight)