Edinburgh score seven to reach play-offs

• 17 May 2025
• News

Darcy Graham's hat-trick and Magnus Bradbury's double helped Edinburgh secure a place in the BKT United Rugby Championship play-offs – and Champions Cup rugby for 2025/26 – as they swept to a bonus-point win over Ulster in the Scottish capital.

Edinburgh ran in three of the four they needed in the first half. Graham, Bradbury and Ewan Ashman scored for the home side but a penalty try and a gift to Werner Kok made it a seven-point game at the break.

The outstanding Bradbury got his second after the interval and with it came that critical bonus-point score early in the second half.

Pierre Schoeman went over for a fifth in what was a terrific performance on a high-pressure night. Even when Jude Postlethwaite ran in a spectacular score from his own 22, Graham responded quickly.

Graham then finished with a flourish, adding the final touches to a spectacular team move, diving over the whitewash for his hat-trick.

A frenetic opening saw Edinburgh blow two big chances from close-range line-outs only to recover and cut Ulster open soon after, Graham being the man doing the cutting.

Wes Goosen put the wing through a gap and ran all the way to the posts at a packed Hive Stadium.

And it got better soon after as they turned the screw. Another close-range line-out but this time they executed, Bradbury blasting his way through what was left of the Ulster defence.

With a lead of 12-0 and all the momentum, Edinburgh then got hit between the eyes by Ulster’s response. The visitors got a penalty try when Graham, in an attempt at cutting out what would have been a try-scoring pass to Zac Ward, knocked-on.

Graham was sent to the bin for his troubles. He was only in there a few minutes when Ulster levelled through Kok, who picked up and crashed over after Edinburgh failed to deal with a chip through.

The home team regained the initiative in quick order. From another line-out inside the Ulster 22, Ashman went like the clappers and thundered over. Ross Thompson converted and the gap was seven.

The Graham yellow-card spell finished 7-5 to Edinburgh and Sean Everitt’s team were a step closer to the last eight.

Edinburgh began the new half powerfully. When Hamish Watson, playing wonderfully, whipped Nathan Doak into touch near his own line, Edinburgh had the attacking platform they needed.

It took a few attempts but Bradbury eventually put them into bonus-point land after a tap and drive near the posts. Thompson’s conversion stretched the lead out to 14.

Schoeman added a fifth just before the hour, the Lion barrelling over from a few metres. Thompson converted. Postlethwaite struck and Graham turned one try into three in quick order. Relief and delight at Hive Stadium.