Edinburgh Rugby to host ‘Greatest Grassroots Guard of Honour’ for Origin Round clash

When Edinburgh face off against Scarlets this Friday (27 February), the pitch-side celebration will serve as a powerful visual tribute to the clubs that shaped the professional stars of today.

Over 100 representatives from the length and breadth of the club’s supporting regions – spanning Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife, and the Borders – will welcome the teams onto the pitch, lining both the Main Stand and Lothian Stand sides.

The outreach and engagement with these regions is a key part of the club’s community strategy and supports a ‘local players becoming legends’ philosophy of bringing through the next generation of Edinburgh stars.

Participating teams range from Berwick to Bo’ness, and from Jed-Forest RFC and Grangemouth to Preston Lodge and Perthshire.

As part of the Origin Round celebrations, the Edinburgh players will wear their grassroots club socks on the night, while the club has also invited a range of local unsung heroes to the match to recognise their tireless work behind the scenes of the regional game.

Edinburgh Rugby Community Delivery Officer, Andrew Lamont, said: “Origin Round is about recognising that no professional player arrives at the top level alone. Behind every Edinburgh jersey is a local club, a dedicated coach, and a community that supported them when they first picked up a ball.

“To have representation from over 50 clubs in our ‘Greatest Grassroots Guard of Honour’ is a massive statement that connects us all as one rugby family.

He continued: “It will mean a huge amount to the players running out on Friday night. To be cheered on by representatives from nearly every club in our region reminds them exactly who they are representing and where they came from.

“It’s a powerful moment that bridges the gap between our professional squad and the next generation of talent currently playing on local pitches across Scotland.”