Hometown hooker Cherry re-signs until 2020

Cherry, 28, has enjoyed a breakout campaign since joining the club from French Fédérale 2 side Stade Niçois in March 2018 – making 16 appearances this season so far – and today extends his stay in the capital by a further year.

On re-signing with his hometown club, Cherry said: “I’m delighted to have re-signed with Edinburgh for another year after such an exciting first season.

“I believe the squad has the ability to achieve great success and I’m looking forward to contributing to that next year.”

Head Coach Richard Cockerill, added: “We’re delighted that Dave has committed to the club for a further season. He’s kicked on really well since joining the club in the summer and continues to develop in his position.

“He provides us with great strength and depth at hooker and will no doubt continue to work hard in training to stake a place in this Edinburgh team.”

After graduating from Edinburgh’s Merchiston Castle School, Cherry played his senior rugby at Currie before making the move to English Championship side London Scottish in 2014.

The hooker soon cemented himself in the Championship outfit’s starting XV, but after three seasons at the Athletic Ground – in which he made 54 appearances, scoring 45 points in the process – Cherry joined Stade Niçois as part of Scottish Rugby’s performance pathway partnership.

After returning to his hometown team in March 2018, former Scotland U20 international Cherry made his Edinburgh debut from the bench against Leinster at the RDS Arena in September of the same year.

Cherry – who has represented Scotland 10 times at U20 level and started all five games at the 2011 Junior World Championship in Italy – quickly established himself as the capital side’s reserve hooker, providing invaluable support from the bench in the early stages of the season.

The hooker was rewarded for his fine domestic form when he was named in Gregor Townsend’s Scotland squad for the 2019 Guinness Six Nations.