Ritchie returns for pre-season opener

• 1 Sep 2022

​Scotland internationalist Jamie Ritchie returns from injury to captain Edinburgh Rugby in tomorrow night’s Scottish Building Society pre-season friendly against London Scottish at DAM Health Stadium (Friday 2 September, kick-off 6.45pm).

The 26-year-old back-row makes his long-awaited return to action having last featured in February’s Calcutta Cup victory at BT Murrayfield.

Ritchie is one of four Scotland caps named in the starting XV as Jamie Hodgson, Marshall Sykes (locks) and James Lang (centre) all start.

Elsewhere, summer signing Nick Auterac (loosehead prop) and academy wing Jake Henry both feature in an Edinburgh side for the first time, with the latter fresh from Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games action, where the flyer excelled at Sevens for Team Scotland.

Purchasing a Season Ticket remains the best value way to secure your place at DAM Health Stadium in 22/23, with London Scottish the first of 12 home fixtures in the Membership package.

Match tickets are still available for tomorrow evening’s pre-season clash against The Exiles at DAM Health Stadium (2 September, kick-off 6.45pm) with prices starting at £20 for adults, £15 for concession/students and £5 for Burgh Juniors (U16).

Ahead of the match, Head Coach Mike Blair said: “We’re really excited to kickstart our season at home and the boys are fired up to get back into competitive games after a really tough, but rewarding, pre-season block.

“Our players always look forward to pulling on the Edinburgh jersey and representing the city, while there are a lot of younger academy guys getting their first taste of rugby at this level. We’re eager to see how they step up to the test.

“London Scottish are a week ahead of us in terms of pre-season preparations, having faced Harlequins last weekend, so they’ll be in good shape and travelling north with confidence.

“It’s set up to be a cracking game of rugby and we can’t wait to get back out there in front of our passionate home support.”

Henry Immelman is named at full-back after recovering from a knee injury sustained at the tail end of 21/22. Wingers Jack Blain and henry complete the back-three, with the former once again available for selection following a developmental period in Australia with Warringah Rugby Club.

Lang – named vice-captain – is selected at outside centre alongside club centurion Chris Dean, while scrum-half Charlie Shiel and stand-off Charlie Savala form an exciting half-back combination.

Hooker Adam McBurney packs down alongside props Auterac and Angus Williams, with Sykes and Hodgson in the middle-row.

Number 8 Ben Muncaster – capped by Scotland A against Chile in the summer – anchors a back-row alongside flankers Connor Boyle – named vice-captain for the first time – and the aforementioned Ritchie.

Mike Blair names a mix of experience and youth on a bench which sees FOSROC Super6 players Connor Gordon (Stirling Wolves), Kwagga van Niekerk (Watsonians) and Korie Winters (Southern Knights) selected, with Jamie Jack – recruited from Ampthill RFC last season – also involved for the first time.

Edinburgh Rugby team to face London Scottish at DAM Health Stadium in the Scottish Building Society pre-season friendly
Friday 2 September, kick-off 6.45pm

15. Henry Immelman (16)

14. Jack Blain (20)
13. James Lang VICE-CAPTAIN (19)
12. Chris Dean (121)
11. Jake Henry (0)

10. Charlie Savala (11)
9. Charlie Shiel (45)

1. Nick Auterac (0)
2. Adam McBurney (14)
3. Angus Williams (12)
4. Marshall Sykes (23)
5. Jamie Hodgson (41)
6. Jamie Ritchie CAPTAIN (85)
7. Connor Boyle VICE-CAPTAIN (23)
8. Ben Muncaster (16)

Replacements

Jamie Jack, Harrison Courtney, Patrick Harrison, Lee-Roy Atalifo, Dan Gamble, Jamie Campbell, Pierce Philips, Connor Gordon, Nick Haining, Kwagga van Niekerk, Henry Pyrgos, Ben Vellacott, Jaco van der Walt, Finn Douglas, Cammy Hutchison, Cammy Scott, Matt Currie, Korie Winters, Damien Hoyland.