Our Burgh summer sessions inspire the next generation

• 1 Aug 2024
• News

Edinburgh Rugby’s commitment to the local community has been in full force this summer, with the club’s players hitting the road for plenty of fun and games with the next generation of Burgh stars.

The #OurBurgh community outreach programme has seen the squad visit a number of clubs over the opening two weeks of pre-season, with Musselburgh, Edinburgh Accies, Lasswade and Murrayfield Wanderers already benefiting from the summer sessions.

North Berwick RFC is the next stop on the tour, with Dalkeith RFC and Melrose to follow shortly after.

The impact of these visits has been immense, with young rugby players across the region getting the chance to meet their heroes and receive expert coaching.

Wes Goosen chats to players at Murrayfield Wanderers summer camp

Murrayfield Wanderers Development Officer, Marko Mladenovic, was full of praise for the club’s efforts.

“Edinburgh Rugby holds a prominent position in our city’s sporting scene, making it a huge pleasure to host Wes Goosen and Mosese Tuipolutu to our pre-season rugby session at Roseburn Park.

“This pre-season, we organised a collaborative programme with the youth from Edinburgh Harlequins, Leith Rugby Club, and Murrayfield Wanderers, involving families and children from some of Edinburgh and Scotland’s most deprived areas.

“Wes retold stories and experiences playing with some of the most talented All Blacks ever seen, while Mosese jumped in with youth showcasing his skills and expressing his delight to be now playing at Edinburgh Rugby and aiming to follow his brother’s successful path.

“The boys and girls were thrilled to get the opportunity to meet the players and get their photos with Wes and Mosese, wishing them the best of luck for the start of their season.

“We want to thank Edinburgh Rugby for making this day possible and providing the opportunity for our young people to be inspired by Wes and Mosese.”

Hamish Watson poses for photos with Edinburgh Accies summer camp attendees.

Lasswade RFC Development Officer, Jack Hall, echoed Mladenovic’s sentiments: “It was great to have two hugely successful Scotland and Edinburgh Rugby players along to our mini rugby camp at Lasswade RFC.

“The kids were so excited and had plenty of questions to ask Mark Bennett and Magnus Bradbury, about their rugby journey. Our mini rugby players brought along items for them to sign, and their visit will definitely be remembered by all the kids for a long time.”

Connor Boyle and Jamie Hodgson took a trip to Musselburgh’s summer camp.

Musselburgh Development Officer Tom Foley also expressed his delight at the club’s visit: “We were thrilled to have Connor Boyle and Jamie Hodgson down at our summer camp this week! All the kids got a real buzz from interacting with Edinburgh players through a tag tournament followed by autographs and photos.

“Everyone was grateful they were able to give up time out of their busy schedule to help inspire the next generation.”

Edinburgh Accies Lead Community Development Officer, Iain Berthinussen, praised the impact of the sessions: “It is always good to welcome two Edinburgh players down to Raeburn Place for our summer camp.

Ben Muncaster and Tom Dodd dropped by North Berwick’s summer camp.

“When we found out we would be welcoming two former players in Hamish Watson and Dave Cherry back to Raeburn Place to share their stories to the young players, it made it all the more special.

“Letting the players meet and ask questions to players who have played at Raeburn Place but then went on to achieve so much in the game is really inspirational for our younger players.”

With further visits planned to Currie Chieftains and Hawick RFC later this month, it’s clear that Edinburgh Rugby is committed to making a positive impact in its supporting regions.