Expanded Pro-Academy confirmed for 2024/25

• 6 Aug 2024
• News

Edinburgh Rugby today confirmed an expanded pro-academy intake ahead of the 2024/25 season.

The club’s academy of promising players has increased from the previous system of 15 ‘Stage Three Academy players’ to a larger group – which currently sits at 23 but may expand further – and includes several players who will train with both the academy and senior sides through the upcoming campaign.

In line with the new Performance Player Pathway announcement from Scottish Rugby earlier this year, the expansion of the pro-academy group will now include players up to the age of U23.

The expanded set-up allows for the inclusion of later developing players and will further support the ongoing development of homegrown players.

Their playing programme will include expanded Edinburgh ‘A’ team fixtures, related to the Performance Player Pathway, which will be announced at a later date.

There will be a pro-academy and pro player draft which will take place in August and will allow, where appropriate, for pro-academy players to play in the Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership in 2024/25.

Saw Leweni in training at Hive Stadium

Edinburgh Rugby Head Coach, Sean Everitt, said: “I’m incredibly excited about the expansion of our pro-academy group. It’s a testament to the talent coming through our system and a clear indication of our commitment to developing homegrown players.

“With a larger group, we have a fantastic opportunity to nurture these young players and prepare them for the challenges of professional rugby.

“The recent World Rugby U20 Trophy showcased the potential of our young players. Many of them excelled on the international stage, and it’s thrilling to see them return to Edinburgh with a hunger to develop further. This expanded pro-academy group will provide them with the ideal environment to progress their careers.”

He continued: “We’re looking forward to giving our best young players more opportunities to shine by increasing the number of ‘A’ team fixtures this season.

“Playing against top-level opposition is invaluable experience, and it will undoubtedly accelerate their development. This is an exciting time for Edinburgh Rugby and we believe these young players will play a crucial role in our future success.”

Thirteen of the pro-academy roster have been retained by the capital club, including several players that featured in the Scotland squad during the recent World Rugby U20 Trophy.

Highly-rated Scotland U20 captain Liam McConnell (back-row) continues in the pro-academy after leading the age-grade side to the World Rugby U20 Trophy at Hive Stadium earlier this month.

Brothers Ollie (tighthead prop) and Jerry Blyth-Lafferty (hooker) – who became the first siblings to represent Scotland U20 Men at the same time – have been playing in the pack alongside Euan McVie (lock), Tom Currie (back-row) and Freddy Douglas (back-row), all of whom will remain in the capital.

In the backs, Hector Patterson (scrum-half) and Jack Hocking (full-back), who both scored tries against Hong Kong China, are also retained.

Elsewhere, Ollie Duncan (back-row), Jack Brown (full-back) and Isaac Coates (fly-half) will also continue in the capital’s pro-academy set up.

Harri Morris (hooker) and Mikey Jones (loosehead prop) are also included within the expanded pro-academy, with Jones [#1332] Edinburgh Rugby’s latest debutant after making his first pro appearance in last season’s EPCR Challenge Cup Round of 16 clash against Bayonne.

Ten newcomers will form the rest of the expanded pro-academy.

Loosehead prop Jamie Stewart makes the move north from the Exeter Chiefs academy, while Scotland U18 Lock Mac Rutherford makes a shorter northbound journey to join the club from Gala RFC.

Half-back pairing of Hamish MacArthur (scrum-half) and Ross Wolfenden (fly-half) join from Merchiston Castle and Peebles RFC respectively, with the latter having featured against Edinburgh ‘A’ for the Southern Knights in the recent FOSROC Super Series Sprint.

On the opposite side, Sam Leweni (centre, Watsonians) and Nairn Moncrieff (wing, Gala) both join, having impressed in the sprint series, starting every match in an unbeaten campaign for the capital side.

Centre Findlay Thomson and scrum-half Conor McAlpine both join from Watsonians FC and have been central figures for Scotland U20 in the World Trophy.

Christian Lindsay (lock) joins from Loretto High School, having formed a second-row partnership with Rutherford for Edinburgh U18 in this season’s inter-city derby.

Winger Lewis Wells – who has also featured for Edinburgh ‘A’ and has regularly trained with Edinburgh’s first team – joins the club’s pro-academy set up having enjoyed a meteoric rise from Linlithgow RFC to the Super Series with Heriot’s.

The athletic winger was recently invited by Gregor Townsend to train with Scotland and will link up full-time in the capital ahead of next season.

Edinburgh Rugby Pro-Academy 2024/25

Jerry Blyth-Lafferty (hooker)
Ollie Blyth-Lafferty (tighthead prop)
Jack Brown (full-back)
Isaac Coates (fly-half)
Tom Currie (back-row)
Freddy Douglas (back-row)
Ollie Duncan (back-row)
Jack Hocking (full-back)
Mikey Jones (loosehead prop)
Sam Leweni (centre)
Christian Lindsay (lock)
Hamish MacArthur (scrum-half)
Conor McAlpine (scrum-half)
Liam McConnell (back-row)
Euan McVie (lock)
Nairn Moncrieff (winger)
Harri Morris (hooker)
Hector Patterson (scrum-half)
Mac Rutherford (lock)
Jamie Stewart (loosehead prop)
Findlay Thomson (centre)
Lewis Wells (winger)
Ross Wolfenden (fly-half)