Vote now: March Scottish Building Society Player of the Month

Through it all, four players stood out from the crowd: Harry Paterson, Dylan Richardson, Malelili Satala and Magnus Bradbury.

These four standouts have been shortlisted for March’s Scottish Building Society Player of the Month award, and now it is up to the fans to decide who deserves the trophy.

The winning player will not only receive the March trophy but will also be awarded a £500 donation from Scottish Building Society to a local rugby club or cause of their choosing, continuing the commitment to supporting the grassroots game in Scotland.

VOTE NOW FOR MARCH SCOTTISH BUILDING SOCIETY PLAYER OF THE MONTH

Harry Paterson

The Edinburgh full-back has been in exceptional form throughout March, providing a consistent attacking threat in the number 15 jersey.

Paterson was at his brilliant best in the comeback win over Scarlets, producing a moment of individual brilliance to clinch the bonus point win – chasing his own kick downfield before charging down the Scarlets full-back’s clearance and pouncing on the ball to score a decisive try.

He backed that up the following week against Ulster, finishing well after gathering a perfectly-weighted dinked pass from Wes Goosen to hit the line and help Edinburgh into a first-half lead. Two tries in two games, and a bright spark throughout a tough month.

Dylan Richardson

March was a landmark month for the versatile forward, who finally got the chance to play in the position he was principally signed to fill.

Having spent his first eight appearances for the club at openside flanker to manage the back injury he arrived with from the Sharks, Richardson made his first start at hooker in the rescheduled clash against Ulster – and he rose to the occasion impressively.

He continued in that role against the Lions in Johannesburg, where he was widely regarded as Edinburgh’s best player in the loose – carrying hard, jackling effectively and leading by example at altitude.

Against the Stormers the following week he shifted back to the back-row and, while quieter with ball in hand, put in a dogged defensive shift, leading the team’s tackle count with a dozen hits.

Malelili Satala

Still only 21, the Edinburgh-born winger has been growing in confidence with every passing week – and March offered further glimpses of why the club moved to sign him.

Against Scarlets, Satala was a key figure in the comeback, fielding a kick cleanly under pressure before releasing Wes Goosen on a break that led to Ben Vellacott’s try, and later popping a smart pass to Harri Morris to keep Edinburgh’s third score alive.

On tour in South Africa, Satala produced arguably his most eye-catching display in an Edinburgh jersey against the Stormers, impressing particularly under the high ball and delivering a surging carry that drove Edinburgh deep into Stormers territory to set up Boan Venter’s try.

Magnus Bradbury

The Edinburgh captain led from the front throughout March, producing some of his finest individual displays in what was a difficult month for the club collectively.

Bradbury was the standout performer in the win over Scarlets, named BKT Player of the Match after scoring Edinburgh’s third try – catching a lofted pass on the left wing and powering back inside to bulldoze over with characteristic force.

In Johannesburg against the Lions, he seemed untroubled by the altitude, putting in a mammoth shift in the loose and winning several vital turnovers to keep his side competitive.

Against the Stormers he again captained the side for the full 80 minutes, leading by example — though the day ended on a sour note as he picked up a leg injury in a clearout that has since ruled him out of this weekend’s Investec Champions Cup last-16 tie at Leinster.

VOTE NOW FOR MARCH SCOTTISH BUILDING SOCIETY PLAYER OF THE MONTH