Douglas to return home on short-term deal

• 12 Mar 2019

Edinburgh have continued their recruitment drive ahead of next season with the signing of Scottish second-row, Murray Douglas, from Super Rugby side Brumbies on a short-term deal to provide cover during the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

The 29-year-old former Heriot’s, Kirkcaldy and Aberdeen Grammar player returns home to Edinburgh, for whom he has already made one appearance – against Cardiff Blues in 2012.

Douglas – who has previously turned out for Super Rugby sides Melbourne Rebels and Wellington Hurricanes – joined Brumbies on a two-year deal at the start of the current campaign.

However, the 6ft 6in second-row today joins Edinburgh on a deal that will see him remain in the capital for a five-month period following the conclusion of the current Super Rugby season, before returning to the Canberra club for the start of the 2019/20 campaign.

On joining the club, Douglas, said: “I’m really excited to be presented with the opportunity to join Edinburgh. It’s a great opportunity for me to head back to Scotland in between Super Rugby Seasons and represent the club that I grew up supporting.

“Edinburgh have been going from strength to strength in recent years, so it’s a very exciting time to be joining the club. I am very much looking forward to joining the group and contributing to the club’s continued success next season.’’

Head Coach Richard Cockerill added: “Murray has picked up plenty of experience in Super Rugby, playing alongside some of the most exciting players in the world.

“He’s a strong and skilful ball carrier that provides us with invaluable cover across a number of positions. We’re looking forward to watching how he develops in an already talented Edinburgh back-five.”

Having come through the ranks at local side Kirkcaldy, Douglas joined Aberdeen Grammar in 2008 whilst he studied Law at Aberdeen University.

Douglas returned south to the capital in 2012 to take up a Law traineeship with a local firm and joined Tennent’s Premiership side, Heriot’s.

The second-row captained the Scotland Club XV against Ireland and France in 2014 and helped Heriot’s lift the Scottish Cup in 2015 before making the move to Melbourne, Australia.

After joining the Rebels development side, Melbourne Rising, Douglas made his mark in the Dewar Shield before making a handful of appearances for the AAMI Park outfit during the 2016/17 Super Rugby season.

A strong Mitre 10 Cup campaign in 2017 saw him pick up a contract with Wellington-based side, Hurricanes, for whom he made his debut against the Bulls in Pretoria. He went onto make seven appearances for the Hurricanes in 2018.

Douglas joined Brumbies at the start of the current campaign and made his debut from the bench in this month’s 29-26 defeat to Rebels at AAMI Park.