Cherry pens two-year extension

Cherry, 32, celebrates his new deal having this week been named in the Scotland squad for the upcoming Guinness Six Nations Championship.

The hooker – who joined the club from Stade Niçois ahead of the 2018/19 season – has been capped eight times by his country and crossed the whitewash in Sunday’s Heineken Champions Cup victory against Castres Olympique.

On penning a new deal, Cherry said: “Edinburgh is home for me and my fiancé, so I’m absolutely thrilled to extend terms with a club that means so much to me.

“I’m really enjoying my rugby at the moment and I think that has shown in my performances in the last few years. I love being part of this squad. We have a such a tightknit group of guys who all play with the same mentality and desire to win.

“I really believe this team can achieve something special and it will be a brilliant occasion taking on Saracens at DAM Health Stadium this Sunday. It’s a match that everyone connected to the club can’t wait for.

“I’m delighted to re-sign and I’m looking forward to pulling on the Edinburgh jersey for another two years.”

A product of Merchiston Castle School, Cherry played his senior rugby at Currie before making the move to English Championship side London Scottish in 2014.

The hooker soon cemented himself in the Championship outfit’s starting XV, but after three seasons at the Athletic Ground – in which he made 54 appearances, scoring 45 points in the process – Cherry joined Stade Niçois as part of Scottish Rugby’s performance pathway partnership.

Cherry was one of seven debutants named in the 2019 Six Nations training squad by Head Coach Gregor Townsend, and eventually made his international debut in the famous away victory over England at Twickenham in February 2021.

He made his 50th appearance for the club against Connacht in March 2022, marking the occasion in style by scoring a try as Edinburgh won 56-8 against the Irish province.

Head Coach Mike Blair added: “Dave [Cherry] is a real leader for us and someone that is hugely respected around the club because of his commitment to the jersey – he loves representing the city and when he speaks, players stand up and take notice.

“Dave is a quality operator with a tough edge to his game. We’ve been really impressed by his performances for club and country and were delighted to see him named in Scotland’s Six Nations squad earlier this week.”