Thompson returns for Treviso trip

2 Jan 2026

Fly-half Ross Thompson returns to the starting XV as Edinburgh Rugby kick off 2026 with a trip to face Benetton Rugby at Stadio Monigo this Saturday (3 January, kick-off 5.30pm GMT/6.30pm local) – live on Premier Sports.

The playmaker makes his first start since November’s victory over Ospreys, as Head Coach Sean Everitt makes five personnel changes to the side that featured last time out.

In the pack, Ollie Blyth-Lafferty returns at tighthead prop, while a refreshed back-row sees Tom Dodd and Freddy Douglas handed starts at blindside and openside flanker respectively.

The backline features just two changes as Thompson and Jack Brown come into the starting line-up. Brown, 20, earns his second start of the campaign at full-back, a move that sees Wes Goosen shift to the wing.

On the match, Everitt said: “It was a disappointing period for us over Christmas, but we’re ready to fight back against a strong Benetton side on the road.

“The URC is still wide open, so any points we can pick up from now to the end of the season will keep us in the mix for the play-offs.”

Brown’s start at full-back sees Goosen named on the left wing, where he joins British & Irish Lion Darcy Graham in a dangerous back-three.

The midfield remains settled as James Lang and Matt Currie continue their partnership in the centres, while Thompson links up with scrum-half Ben Vellacott at half-back.

In the pack, Blyth-Lafferty joins hooker Harri Morris and loosehead Pierre Schoeman in the front row.

Everitt names an unchanged engine room in locks Glen Young and Grant Gilchrist, while club captain Magnus Bradbury anchors the pack at number 8 to round out the starting XV alongside Dodd and Douglas.

Edinburgh Rugby team to face Benetton Rugby at Stadio Monigo in the BKT United Rugby Championship
Saturday 3 January (kick-off 5.30pm GMT/6.30pm local) – live on Premier Sports.

15. Jack Brown (6)

14. Darcy Graham (88)
13. Matt Currie (67)
12. James Lang (82)
11. Wes Goosen (64)

10. Ross Thompson (31)
9. Ben Vellacott (83)

1. Pierre Schoeman (142)
2. Harri Morris (10)
3. Ollie Blyth-Lafferty (5)
4. Glen Young (56)
5. Grant Gilchrist (227)
6. Tom Dodd (16)
7. Freddy Douglas (13)
8. Magnus Bradbury (142) CAPTAIN

Replacements

16. Jerry Blyth-Lafferty (1)
17. James Whitcombe (2)
18. Paul Hill (23)
19. Callum Hunter-Hill (25)
20. Liam McConnell (14)
21. Charlie Shiel (81)
22. Cammy Scott (25)
23. Piers O’Conor (8)

Unavailable: Charlie McCaig (knee), Rhys Litterick (achilles), Rob Carmichael (wrist), Mosese Tuipulotu (knee), Tom Currie (knee), Luke Crosbie (hamstring), D’arcy Rae (ankle), Sam Skinner (hamstring), Paddy Harrison (back), Ben Muncaster (knee), Marshall Sykes (arm), Harry Paterson (hamstring), Findlay Thomson (hand), Ewan Ashman (concussion), Duhan van der Merwe (hip), Boan Venter (neck), Dylan Richardson (ribs).