Thompson set for first capital outing

• 12 Sep 2024
• Team Announcement

Stand-off Ross Thompson will get his first minutes since his capital homecoming in tomorrow night’s Scottish Building Society Pre-Season clash against Gloucester at Hive Stadium (Friday 13 September, kick-off 7.30pm).

The stand-off is one of five summer signings set to feature at Hive Stadium, as Edinburgh build towards next week’s BKT United Rugby Championship opener against Leinster. 

Head Coach Sean Everitt has selected a side to play either half against the Cherry and Whites, giving multiple squad members valuable minutes ahead of the campaign start.

Everitt said: “This is a good opportunity for us to see our players in a game day situation, having put in a huge amount of work during the off-season.

“There are two 15s, however we don’t view it as a first or second team, more is as a chance to see different combinations around the park, and see what we’ve worked on in pre-season in action.”

The first half side sees Darcy Graham make his long-awaited return from injury, partnered alongside Scotland teammate Duhan van der Merwe on the wing, with Wes Goosen named at full-back.

New signings Matt Scott and Mosese Tuipulotu make up the midfield, at 12 and 13 respectively, with Scott making his first appearance at Hive Stadium having returned for his third stint at his hometown club.

Ben Vellacott starts at scrum-half, joining former Glasgow Warrior Thompson in the halves.

In the pack, Paul Hill starts at tighthead having moved north from Gallagher Premiership champions Northampton Saints and is joined in the front row by Pierre Schoeman (loosehead) and Ewan Ashman (hooker). 

Double centurion Grant Gilchrist starts at lock ahead of his 14th season in the capital, with Marshall Sykes completing the engine room.  

Magnus Bradbury makes his capital return, starting at number 8, alongside reunited back-row colleagues duo Jamie Ritchie (blindside flanker) and Hamish Watson (openside).

There will be sweeping changes at half-time, including the return of Argentine full-back Emiliano Boffelli, with the Pumas star set to make his first appearance since April having recovered from off-season surgery.

Edinburgh Rugby team to face Gloucester Rugby in the Scottish Building Society Pre-Season match at Hive Stadium (Friday 13 September, kick-off 7.30pm)

15. Wes Goosen

14. Darcy Graham
13. Mosese Tuipulotu
12. Matt Scott
11. Duhan van der Merwe

10. Ross Thompson
9. Ben Vellacott

1. Pierre Schoeman
2. Ewan Ashman
3. Paul Hill
4. Marshall Sykes
5. Grant Gilchrist
6. Jamie Ritchie
7. Hamish Watson
8. Magnus Bradbury

Second half XV

15. Emiliano Boffelli

14. Ross McCann
13. Mark Bennett
12. Matt Currie
11. Lewis Wells

10. Ben Healy
9. Ali Price

1. Boan Venter
2. Dave Cherry
3. D’Arcy Rae
4. Rob Carmichael
5. Jamie Hodgson
6. Tom Dodd
7. Connor Boyle
8. Ben Muncaster 

Unavailable: Luke Crosbie, Nathan Sweeney, James Lang, Glen Young, Sam Skinner, Angus Williams, Robin Hislop, Harry Paterson, Javan Sebastian.