Ashman to start against Zebre Parma

8 Oct 2026

British & Irish Lion Ewan Ashman returns from injury to make his first appearance of the season, starting at hooker for Saturday's trip to face Zebre Parma at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi (10 October, kick-off 3pm BST/4pm local) – live on Premier Sports

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - MAY 15: Edinburgh's Ewan Ashman runs on to score a second half try during a BKT United Rugby Championship match between Edinburgh and Connacht at the Hive Stadium, on May 15, 2026, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Ewan Bootman / SNS Group)

Ashman is one of two changes to the starting XV that beat DHL Stormers last Friday night. Mosese Tuipulotu, fit again after completing return-to-play protocols, is also handed his first start of the campaign at inside centre.

Academy loosehead prop Jamie Stewart, 20, is in line for his professional debut from the bench, while lock Marshall Sykes returns to the matchday squad having recovered from a shoulder injury.

On the match, Head Coach Sean Everitt said: “We have momentum going into the weekend, but we know there’s a massive task awaiting us in Italy this weekend.

“Zebre are a team that have caused us problems in the past, and we’re anticipating them throwing everything at us having taken confidence from their win against us in Parma last year.”

Ashman is the sole change in the pack, starting alongside loosehead prop Pierre Schoeman and tighthead Ollie Blyth-Lafferty in the front-row.

Callum Hunter-Hill and Glen Young start together in the second row for the third game in a row, with Magnus Bradbury at number 8 and flankers Freddy Douglas and Liam McConnell once again completing the pack.

Everitt opts for an unchanged half-back pairing, with fly-half James Grayson starting alongside scrum-half Hector Patterson.

Tuipulotu joins co-captain Matt Currie in the centres, with an unchanged back-three of Piers O’Conor, Malelili Satala, and Geordie Gwynn making up the starting XV.

Edinburgh Rugby team to face Zebre Parma at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi in the BKT United Rugby Championship (Saturday 10 October, kick-off 3pm BST/4pm local) – live on Premier Sports.

15. Piers O’Conor

14. Malelili Satala
13. Matt Currie CO-CAPTAIN
12. Mosese Tuipulotu
11. Geordie Gwynn

10. James Grayson
9. Hector Patterson

1. Pierre Schoeman
2. Ewan Ashman
3. Ollie Blyth-Lafferty
4. Callum Hunter-Hill
5. Glen Young
6. Liam McConnell
7. Freddy Douglas
8. Magnus Bradbury CO-CAPTAIN

Replacements

16. Harri Morris
17. Jamie Stewart*
18. Paul Hill
19. Marshall Sykes
20. Tom Currie
21. Conor McAlpine
22. Cammy Scott
23. Rory McHaffie

*Edinburgh Rugby debut