Bradbury and Currie named co-captains for 2026/27

The pair will lead the side into the new BKT United Rugby Championship campaign, which gets under way this Friday night against Ulster in Belfast.

Club centurion Bradbury, 31, continues in the role after an impressive season as captain in 2025/26. The Oban Lorne man missed just three BKT United Rugby Championship fixtures all season, and his consistency earned him Scotland appearances against South Africa and Fiji in the summer’s Nations Championship.

Currie, 25, becomes the 86th player in the club and district’s 154-year history to be named captain. The Scotland centre has made 72 appearances for Edinburgh since making his debut against Munster in February 2021 and has won four caps for his country in that time.

A product of Dumfries Saints RFC and Merchiston Castle School, Currie is also the first centre to hold the co-captaincy since Graham Shiel in 1999/2000, when Shiel shared the role with Grant McKelvey.

There is a fitting symmetry to the appointment in a season that celebrates 30 years of professional rugby in the capital. The late Scott Hastings, who famously wore the 13 jersey and sadly passed away earlier this year, was the club’s first-ever professional captain in 1996/97. Three decades on, Currie will hope to wear the same number this season.

The club has a proud history of shared leadership. Grant Gilchrist and Stuart McInally were co-captains in three separate seasons (2016/17, 2021/22 and 2022/23), while Gilchrist led alongside Ben Vellacott in 2023/24 and 2024/25. Before that, Simon Cross held the co-captaincy with Ally Hogg in 2007/08 and with Mike Blair in 2008/09.

Edinburgh Rugby co-captain, Bradbury, said: “Leading this club last season is right up there with the proudest moments of my career, and I’m delighted to continue in the role alongside Matt.

“Edinburgh is home for me. I grew up wanting to play for this club, and I take a huge amount of pride in pulling on the jersey every week. That feeling never goes away.”

He continued: “I know I’m one of the more experienced heads in the squad now, and that comes with responsibility. We’ve got a young group, with some really exciting players coming through, and I genuinely enjoy helping the next generation find their feet and push on.

“Matt is a great example of that. He’s grown into a real leader in this group, and the boys look up to him in the way he trains and the way he carries himself off the pitch. Between us, I think we can bring the best out of this squad.

“It’s a privilege to lead this group into the new season, and we can’t wait to get started in Belfast on Friday night.”

Edinburgh Rugby co-captain, Currie, added: “It’s a massive honour to be named co-captain of this club. When you look at the names who have led Edinburgh before, it’s not something I take lightly.

“I grew up in Dumfries, but Edinburgh has become home for me. I feel so proud to be co-captain of this club and this city. Playing for Edinburgh was always the goal, so to now have the chance to lead the team is really special.”

Currie continued: “To be the first centre to hold the role in a long time, in the season we’re marking 30 years of professional rugby, means a lot. Scott Hastings set the standard as the club’s first professional captain, and it would be special to pull on the 13 jersey and lead the team this year.

“I’ve always looked up to Magnus and learned a huge amount from him, particularly in terms of leadership. The way he sets standards, both on and off the pitch, is something I’ve tried to take into my own game. I’m really looking forward to working alongside him to drive this group forward.”

Edinburgh Rugby Head Coach, Sean Everitt, said: “Magnus and Matt complement each other really well, and we’re delighted to have them leading the team this season.

“Magnus is playing some of the best rugby of his career. He’s been such a consistent performer for us, and he drives us forward in so many ways. On the field it’s his physicality, and off it he holds players accountable and sets really high standards. He loves playing for Edinburgh, and that’s exactly what you want in a leader.

“Matt has the ability to be a Test starter for Scotland, and he’s been unlucky with injury at times. He’s one of the most consistent players in our squad, and the guys look up to him because he raises the standards around him every day. He’ll be a great leader for this club.

“Both have a deep connection to Edinburgh and its supporters, and they’ll be backed by a strong leadership group across the squad. We’re confident they’ll lead with real purpose this season.”

Magnus Bradbury

A product of Oban Lorne RFC, Merchiston Castle School and the club’s academy, Bradbury represented Scotland at every age-grade before making his Edinburgh debut against Leinster in October 2014.

The ferocious ball carrier burst onto the scene in 2016/17, starting 21 of his 23 games, and won his first Scotland cap that November at blindside flanker in a home victory over Argentina at Scottish Gas Murrayfield.

He brought up his Edinburgh century against Benetton in December 2021, on Club Appreciation Night, paying tribute to Oban Lorne.

After joining Bristol Bears in 2022, he was named Players’ Player of the Season in his first campaign at Ashton Gate. He returned to the capital in 2024 and has now made 151 appearances for Edinburgh and won 24 caps for his country.

Matt Currie

Currie made his professional debut for his boyhood club in February 2021, coming on as a late replacement against Munster at Scottish Gas Murrayfield, and scored his first try in the Rainbow Cup win over Zebre two months later.

He signed his first professional deal in January 2022 and vice-captained the side against Ospreys that same month, aged just 20.

The centre came of age in 2023/24, when he featured across the backline, scored five tries and was named the club’s Breakout Player of the Season.

That form earned him a place on Scotland’s summer tour of the Americas. He made his Test debut at 13 in a 73-12 win over Canada in Ottawa in July 2024, and scored his first international try against Chile later on the tour.