Edinburgh Rugby show heart for their community

• 7 Aug 2025
• News

Edinburgh Rugby players swapped the grind of pre-season training for local shops and hospital wards yesterday, spending an afternoon volunteering with British Heart Foundation (BHF) and Edinburgh Children's Hospital Charity (ECHC).

The initiative is part of the club’s ongoing commitment to community engagement and giving back to the city that passionately supports them.

The majority of the squad dedicated their afternoon to volunteering at 11 different BHF stores across Edinburgh, including locations in Stockbridge, Leith, Dalry, Morningside and Craigmillar.

Players took on a range of roles, from working in warehouses to sorting stock and selling items on the shop floor. The day provided a unique opportunity for the team to connect directly with residents and contribute to the vital work of BHF.

Meanwhile, a separate group of players visited the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People with the ECHC. They spent time on various wards, connecting with young patients and their families, and bringing smiles to the faces of many young rugby fans.

This community day follows a summer of extensive outreach for the club so far, which includes the #OurBurgh Summer Sessions, sponsored by Arnold Clark MG.

The Edinburgh squad are making the trip to ten local rugby clubs to run sessions with young players, share their expertise and inspire the next generation of Scottish rugby talent.

Edinburgh Rugby Managing Director, Douglas Struth added: “The afternoon our players spent volunteering with British Heart Foundation and Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity was a fantastic day for everyone involved. It was a really humbling and grounding experience for the squad, giving them a chance to step away from the training pitch and give back to the city that supports us so passionately.

“Connecting with our community and capturing the hearts of Edinburgh is a huge part of our club’s mission. We’re proud to have played a small part in the vital work British Heart Foundation does and we look forward to continuing to build these meaningful connections moving forward.”

Vicky Turner, British Heart Foundation Area Manager added: “The Edinburgh Standard shops were elated to host the Edinburgh squad on Tuesday. The energy, professionalism and sincere interest they showed in our work was really appreciated.

“We had players working on tills, filling rails with stock, merchandising Halloween donations, sorting and tagging and even discovering a few donated treasures which will make their way online. Customers were in awe and the players were more than happy to talk and have photos taken with anyone that asked.

“The energy and fun that the team brought to all of the shops was immeasurable and we were really impressed by how seriously they took the experience. It’s not often that we have 6ft 6″ help on shop floors! We’d welcome them to our volunteer teams anytime and they’ve definitely got a new bunch of fans!”