Bennett to start against Saracens

• 13 Mar 2025
• Team Announcement

Club centurion Mark Bennett will complete his return from injury to start in tomorrow night’s friendly against Saracens at Hive Stadium (Friday 14 March, 7.35pm kick-off).

The Scotland international featured from the replacements in the club’s recent win away against Munster but makes his first start since suffering a quad injury against Vodacom Bulls in September.

Scrum-half Charlie Shiel will captain the side which features a blend of senior and up-and-coming academy players in a fixture designed to offer get game time during the Guinness Six Nations, and aid preparations for the business end of the BKT URC and EPCR Challenge Cup season.

Cammy Scott (23) starts at stand-off, partnering skipper Shiel in the halves.

In the front row, Robin Hislop starts at loosehead prop to face his former club, with Javan Sebastian (tighthead) and Harri Morris (hooker) completing the front row.

Scotland international Glen Young starts at lock alongside up-and-coming second-row Robert Carmichael, while Liam McConnell (number 8) anchors a youthful back-row, with blindside flanker Euan McVie and openside flanker Tom Currie.

Ross McCann starts at full-back in a young back-three, alongside academy winger Sam Leweni and Stirling County’s Ross McKnight.

In the centres, Bennett is joined by inside-centre Findlay Thomson, who started in October’s reverse fixture at StoneX Stadium.

Ed Hasdell (Currie Chieftains) and Jamie Shedden (Ayr RFC) are both named among the replacements.

Edinburgh Rugby team to face Saracens at Hive Stadium in a midseason friendly
Friday 14 March, kick-off 7.35pm

15. Ross McCann

14. Sam Leweni
13. Mark Bennett
12. Findlay Thomson
11. Ross McKnight

10. Cammy Scott
9. Charlie Shiel CAPTAIN

1. Robin Hislop
2. Harri Morris
3. Javan Sebastian
4. Robert Carmichael
5. Glen Young
6. Euan McVie
7. Tom Currie
8. Liam McConnell

Replacements

16. Jerry Blyth-Lafferty
17. Mikey Jones
18. Angus Williams
19. Ed Hasdell
21. Conor McAlpine
22. Freddie Owsley
23. Jamie Shedden

Unavailable: Matt Scott (neck), Ben Healy (hip), Harry Paterson (concussion), Emiliano Boffelli (hamstring), Jamie Hodgson (tricep), Lewis Wells (ankle), Tom Dodd (shoulder), Luke Crosbie (pec), Connor Boyle (knee), Hector Patterson (foot), Jack Hocking (pec).

International duty: Pierre Schoeman, Ewan Ashman, Dave Cherry, Patrick Harrison, D’arcy Rae, Grant Gilchrist, Sam Skinner, Marshall Sykes, Ben Muncaster, Jamie Ritchie, Matt Currie, Darcy Graham, Duhan Van der Merwe

U20 International duty: Olly Blyth-Lafferty, Jamie Stewart, Freddy Douglas, Oliver Duncan, Hamish MacArthur, Isaac Coates, Ross Wolfenden, Nairn Moncrieff, Jack Brown