A product of Boroughmuir RFC, where he first picked up a rugby ball aged seven, McAlpine came through George Watson’s College and represented Scotland at U16 level.

His progress was interrupted when he tore his ACL ahead of the U18 Six Nations Festival, but he returned to the game with FOSROC Super Series side Watsonians in 2023/24, starting twice during the 2024 Sprint.

That form earned him a place in the Scotland U20 squad for the 2024 World Rugby U20 Trophy, held at Hive Stadium. McAlpine made his age-grade debut at scrum-half against Samoa in the opening pool match and went on to start the final against USA.

His break from deep in his own half set up Scotland’s second try in a 48-10 win that sealed the title and promotion back to the World Rugby U20 Championship.

McAlpine joined the capital’s academy ahead of the 2024/25 season and made his Edinburgh debut off the bench against Gloucester at Kingsholm in the EPCR Challenge Cup in December 2024.

He was rewarded with a two-year senior contract at the end of that campaign, stepping up to the first-team squad alongside Tom Currie.

The scrum-half made his first URC appearances in 2025/26, including the 1872 Cup clash with Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun.

He has been a regular in Edinburgh’s matchday squads in 2026/27, scoring a try in the pre-season meeting with Ulster before featuring off the bench in the club’s unbeaten start to the URC campaign.