Scottish Building Society Player of the Month initiative continues to make community impact

The partnership has allowed the club to not only recognise outstanding individual performances across the season, but to connect those moments to something bigger.

Each month, the winning player receives the privilege of donating £500 to a grassroots club or cause of their choosing – a gesture that has seen funds reach communities the length and breadth of Scotland, from walking rugby programmes for retired players to youth initiatives nurturing the next generation of talent.

Across the 2025/26 season, Scottish Building Society’s support has seen £2,500 donated in total, reaching five organisations that mean something special to the players who chose them – Highland RFC, Boroughmuir RFC, Stew Mel Lions, Edinburgh Accies Youth and It’s Good 2 Give.

Scottish Building Society’s commitment to this initiative reflects a shared belief that rugby’s values extend well beyond the pitch. Their backing has helped turn individual recognition into genuine community impact, and Edinburgh Rugby is grateful for a partnership that continues to make a real difference where it matters most.

Reflecting on this season’s Scottish Building Society Player of the Month initiative, Scottish Building Society CEO Paul Denton said:

“We’re incredibly proud to continue supporting the Player of the Month initiative and to see the positive impact it has across communities in Scotland.

“Rugby has a unique ability to bring people together, and this award allows us to celebrate outstanding performances on the pitch while giving players the opportunity to support the clubs and causes that matter most to them.

“Seeing these donations reach grassroots rugby programmes, youth initiatives and charitable organisations is exactly what this partnership is all about.”

October 2025: Ewan Ashman

The hooker started the season in rampant form, setting a standard that he would maintain throughout the campaign and that ultimately earned him a place on the British and Irish Lions tour.

A player who consistently delivered at the highest level week in, week out, Ashman earned the first Scottish Building Society Player of the Month of the season.

Donation: Highland Rugby Club

Ewan’s £500 went to Highland RFC, a club with a personal significance – his grandfather was a member there.

Highland are doing fantastic work re-engaging retired players, opening their clubhouse every Wednesday for walking rugby sessions, giving those who thought they’d hung up their boots a reason to dust them off again.

After the rugby, players and their families gather upstairs to share stories and relive the great matches of years gone by – exactly the kind of community spirit that grassroots rugby is built on.

December 2025: Liam McConnell

At just 21, Liam McConnell announced himself as one of Edinburgh’s most exciting young talents with a truly standout month.

The academy graduate firmly established himself as one of the club’s most consistent performers, with his debut 1872 Cup appearance against Glasgow Warriors turning heads both in the coaching box and on the terraces.

Edinburgh moved quickly to tie him down on a new long-term professional contract, securing his future at his hometown club.

Donation: Boroughmuir RFC

Liam’s donation went to Boroughmuir RFC, the club that played a huge role in shaping him as a player and a person.

Having come through every age grade at Meggetland before making the step up to professional rugby, the back-rower was keen to give something back to the youth initiatives that supported his own journey – and to help the next generation of players coming through follow a similar path.

January 2026: Freddy Douglas

Freddy Douglas made January his own with a series of performances that underlined his status as one of the most dangerous breakdown operators in world rugby.

His world-class jackling skills and relentless work rate earned him two Player of the Match awards across the month, with Douglas remaining a standout performer even as Edinburgh faced challenging results against Bath, Vodacom Bulls and Leinster.

Donation: Stew Mel Lions

Freddy donated his £500 to his former mini rugby team, the Stew Mel Lions –  the club where his own rugby story began.

The funds will go towards supporting their annual tour fundraising, a cause close to his heart. Freddy credits those early tour experiences as some of his best rugby memories, and was keen that the next generation of Lions get to enjoy the same.

March 2026: Harry Paterson

Harry Paterson was a consistent presence throughout the season, offering an attacking threat from the number 15 jersey that opponents often struggled to contain.

March was another strong month for the fullback, though it came at a cost – a quad injury sustained on the South Africa tour ruled him out for the entirety of April.

His return for the Dragons fixture in May, which Edinburgh won 24-15, was a timely reminder of just how important he is to the way the team plays.

Donation: Edinburgh Accies Youth

Harry’s £500 went to Edinburgh Accies, the club where his love of rugby first took root.

For a player who has come a long way since his days in the Accies youth set-up, giving back to the coaches and volunteers who helped shape his early development was a deeply personal gesture – and one that will help support the next group of young players coming through the club.

April 2026: Ewan Ashman

Ewan Ashman saved some of his best rugby for the run-in.

Going the full 80 minutes in back-to-back fixtures against Zebre Parma and the Hollywoodbets Sharks, he scored three tries across those two games and ended the season as Edinburgh’s top try scorer — a remarkable achievement for a hooker

It was a fitting end to an exceptional campaign, and one that saw him claim a second Player of the Month award, a testament to a season that will long be remembered by supporters and teammates alike.

Donation: It’s Good 2 Give

For his second award, Ewan chose to donate to It’s Good 2 Give, the club’s official charity partner who’ve been central to Edinburgh Rugby’s #ChangeTheGame campaign.

The charity does incredible work supporting young cancer patients and their families, and Ewan was keen to shine a further spotlight on their efforts.

Edinburgh Rugby has proudly backed the charity through dedicated matchday fundraising at Hive Stadium, and Ewan’s donation adds another meaningful chapter to that partnership.