Scottish qualified loosehead prop James Whitcombe joined from Leicester Tigers on an initial three-year deal ahead of the 2025/26 season.
Whitcombe’s rugby journey began at the age of five with Skipton RFC. He also spent time playing rugby league for Keighley Albion before focusing on the union code at Bradford & Bingley RFC and Woodhouse Grove School, where he earned representative honours for England at U16, U18 (on their 2018 summer tour of South Africa), and U19 levels.
He joined the Leicester Tigers academy at 13 and was part of their successful U18 sides that claimed back-to-back league titles. Following school, he gained valuable experience with Sydney University Colts in the Shute Shield.
Whitcombe was promoted to Leicester’s development squad in July 2019, turning professional, and spent the 2019-2020 season on loan with Leicester Lions in National League 2 South, where he was named the league’s Young Player of the Season.
He made his senior Leicester debut in December 2020 and his Premiership debut in February 2021.
Whitcombe comes from a strong rugby lineage, being the son of Martin Whitcombe, grandson of Frank Whitcombe Jr, and great-grandson of prominent rugby league players Frank Whitcombe and Thomas Cockcroft.
The prop qualifies for Scotland through his Falkirk-born grandmother.
Player number:
Date of birth: 20/11/2000
Height: 6ft 1in
Edinburgh Debut:
Place of birth: Keighley, England
Weight: 120kg
