WARRIORS V FRI 28 AUGUST, 7.35pm | BT MURRAYFIELD

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2 Official Programme WELCOME DOUG STRUTH us with huge challenges - and I Hello, and I hope you’re all am sure this will also be the case keeping safe and well in in many of your own personal circumstances. Throughout these difficult times. lockdown, one of our main Well – where to begin! After six priorities was to stay engaged as months and 175 days of life much as possible with you all, without live rugby, the Guinness and to hopefully lift your spirits PRO14 returned to BT Murrayfield during those difficult times. A huge last weekend and what better amount of work therefore went way to mark the occasion than by into this – be that through unique beating to lift and personal video messages the for the third straight from our players, taking you down season – and, in the process, memory lane through re-runs of secure a home Semi-Final for the our classic games, keeping our first time in the club’s history. Podcast going, holding online Two amazing achievements for events and quizzes, or picking the club. All-Star XVs and providing regular insights from our players Since my last programme notes and coaches (including some from our game against Cardiff club legends). Blues in February, the whole world has undoubtedly changed. Your level of support and COVID-19 continues to present willingness to back the club during this period of lockdown has truly

3 amazed me – and I was delighted they need to your support. I’ve got that we were able to repay that no doubt that you will make your faith with such an impressive presence felt as you get behind the performance on our first game team and also represent the tens back last weekend. of thousands of other members of the Edinburgh Rugby family who I have seen first-hand how hard our cannot be with us! coaches and players have worked in the build-up to this month’s It does feel like that in these return to rugby, and those levels of trying circumstances caused by fitness, hunger and desire certainly COVID-19, this weekend’s match showed as we pulled away in is about more than just rugby. It’s the final 15 minutes to secure a symbol of resilience. It’s about the hard-earned win. A special getting back on our feet, never mention must go to our two new giving up and taking the fight to debutants Andrew Davidson and the opposition. These are all traits , who both that I see in this club, our players made their first appearance for the and our supporters – I think you club. We hope it’s the first of many will agree? and look forward to watching No one is more disappointed you both pull on the jersey in the than me that you all can’t be at seasons to come. BT Murrayfield in person to get Tonight’s match sees us welcome behind the squad this weekend, a limited, restricted and socially however that doesn’t mean you Nathan Chamberlain distanced crowd to BT Murrayfield can’t be part of #OurHomeSupport! – marking the first professional So please, wherever you are come rugby fixture in the UK to host kick-off, let’s show our colours, fly a crowd since the beginning of your flags and make sure we’re the COVID-19 pandemic. The decked out in blue and orange. primary objective of this pilot is You can still do your part from to demonstrate a safe pathway home and make sure our players to hopefully allow larger crowds – via your own social channels in due course. Hosting this pilot – know that you’re getting right is therefore not just a huge behind them. Let’s flood Twitter, step forward for sport, but for Facebook and Instagram with as a nation. I’m delighted support and positivity – you can that it’s Scottish Rugby and truly make the difference! Edinburgh Rugby who are working collaboratively with the Scottish government to lead the way in this As always, enjoy the match! area – and I know that those fans who are lucky enough to be at the game will not let us down here. DOUGLAS STRUTH If you are one of the 600 or so Edinburgh Rugby fans that successfully purchased Managing Director tickets for tonight via the ballot system, then welcome back to #ALWAYSEDINBURGH BT Murrayfield! I’m delighted that we will have some supporters cheering on the boys this Andrew Davidson weekend, as now more than ever

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CLUBCLUBCLUBON SALE NOW edinburghrugby.org/memberships CASTLE6 CASTLEEDINBURGH RUGBY Official Programme CASTLE ONE-ON-ONE WITH RAMBO On hair though, I can’t see past Club captain Stuart McInally Murray McCallum for worst lid… chats lockdown life, growing He came back to training with really shaved sides and a bleach out his hair and looks blonde top. That works for people back on a decade in the like Darcy, but it really doesn’t work for Muz… Scottish capital. How was lockdown life for First things first, what’s going on you? Apart from training hard – with your hair… growing it out in obviously – what kept you busy? lockdown? When golf was allowed again, I I’m going to keep it a big longer! played quite a few rounds and I didn’t get it cut for the whole of have been really enjoying it. lockdown – for probably about four or five months – and I was Some of the boys are playing really quite enjoying just having long well. Mark Bennett went through hair to be honest. 18 holes with me at just three over par, which is particularly I’ve been into the hairdresser impressive. I played with John once to have a bit of a tidy up, but Hardie recently too, and he was a I’m loving it – don’t know what pretty similar level. you think?

7 they’ve been up to. Everyone has and look at some of those key had pretty different lockdown moments and everything. experiences. I’ve always just been extremely But really, the majority of boys grateful to play for this club, my were just trying to keep their hometown city, and whenever I In terms of other golfers, Damien heads down, do their own training sign my new contracts, it’s always Hoyland is definitely the worst. He and stay ready. We all got back into a privilege to represent the team plays to about 50 over par, but he training at BT Murrayfield quite I’ve supported my whole life. refuses to stop playing golf. He just quickly and it wasn’t long until It’s just pretty cool really and I still repeatedly asks to play with me guys were already complaining feel just lucky to be here. I just want and I’ve lost reasons to say no. It about the Watt Bike. Well, to try and become an even better took us four hours to go around 9 mainly Bill! holes the other day! player and try and win something Amazingly, this September with the club. We’ve never won the How was coming back into marks 10 years since you made league, so it would be awesome if training with the boys after so your debut for the club. Do you we could continue to make a push many months off? Same chat or ever look back at that decade for that. like the first day of school? and think about what you’ve You know what it’s like, you just achieved as a player? pick up where you left off… all the I’m not really one to look back. old craic! It was good, catching up I’ll probably do that when I retire with the boys and hearing what

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10 EDINBURGH RUGBY Official Programme WARRIORSNEW

at ahead of rugby’s It may be the same season, return. but the completion of On the field, too, it was a new- the 2019/20 Guinness look squad that came back to Scotstoun in mid-July to train PRO14 campaign marks under their new boss for the first the beginning of a new time. Experienced heads including DTH van der Merwe, , chapter in the story of and Callum Gibbins Glasgow Warriors. all said their goodbyes to the Warrior Nation during rugby’s The suspension of rugby in mid- suspension, as did fellow Warriors March saw the Rory Hughes, Matt Smith, Nick era draw to a close earlier than Frisby, Siua Halanukonuka and planned, with the New Zealander Andrew Davidson. bidding farewell to Scotstoun and to Scotland a month ahead of Wilson’s recruitment has been schedule to take up his new post shrewd, however. The return of in charge of Australia. In came new Richie Gray to his first professional Head Coach Danny Wilson, with club – announced earlier this the Welshman moving across from year – has fans excited to see the the Scotland setup to take charge 6’10” star back in Glasgow colours,

11 whilst the offloading sensation that is converted his short-term deal into a new contract at Scotstoun. Argentinian international prop and promising second-rower Hamish Bain further bolstered the forward pack, whilst exciting Scotland U20 talent Rufus McLean is sure to get fans off their sofas with his attacking prowess in the back-three. The new arrivals, coupled with the 17 contract extensions agreed with members of the current squad Indeed, prior to the COVID-19 over the course of 2019/20, have enforced suspension the Warriors seen the Warriors return to training had been a good run of form since with renewed vigour following the the turn of the year – something Guinness PRO14 suspension. that has become a slight With 16 players representing trademark in recent seasons. their respective countries at the Although Glasgow fell short at BT 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, Murrayfield last Saturday, they will the beginning of the season was be looking to get back to winning always set to prove a tricky period ways this weekend, giving them for the Warriors to navigate. some form of momentum heading However, with November’s 50-0 into the 2020-21 campaign. domination of the at Scotstoun signalling the return of a host of internationals, Glasgow set about competing for a place in the playoffs with their Conference A rivals. December’s 20-16 home triumph over Edinburgh showed just what the team is capable of, with tries from and George Turner sealing a hard-fought win in front of a capacity crowd in Glasgow’s west end.

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14 EDINBURGH RUGBY Official Programme SHIEL READY TO MAKE THE DIFFERENCE Scrum-half is ready to step up after his moment of magic sealed the 1872 Cup. In a tight and fiercely contested 1872 derby, Charlies Shiel made the difference. With 74 minutes on the clock, the replacement scrum-half caught a lofted pass from before turning on the afterburners and beating three defenders for a sensational solo score. That try - his third for the club – put last Saturday’s game against Glasgow Warriors out of reach and settled any doubts that Edinburgh were feeling rusty after five months without competitive action.

15 like Glasgow. With it being the first game back, it was always going to be a bit rusty and clunky in parts, but the boys were pretty pleased with the result, and I thought we did really well. While the 22-year-old’s score was arguably the best of the night, Shiel – known as Chico around he was remarkably humble upon the club – plays rugby the right reflection on it. Shiel quickly way; at pace, and more often than deflected all praise in the way of Going into the not, with a smile on his face. That positional rival – the cheeky demeanour is perfect for man he replaced at scrum-half on his role as scrum-half and, as you the night – who managed to put next few weeks, can imagine, Shiel was left with a two tries past the Warriors prior to grin on his face come full-time on Shiel’s late effort. and working Saturday. “It was pretty good to get the try I “After six months, that was suppose – you just take what you towards that probably the best outcome we can get really! It’s especially good could have asked for – first game, to now keep the 1872 Cup for the first win – especially against rivals third season in a row, because home Semi- Final, we’ve put ourselves in a really good place.

it’s such a special thing between Edinburgh and Glasgow, and for the boys in general as well. “The try itself was a fair fluke to be honest! It’s always good to get on the scoresheet though, so I was more than happy with that.” “Between Nic [Groom] and Henry [Pyrgos], they’re scoring machines, so it’s good to have them and have a bit of competition among the ranks – especially when Nic’s pulling two tries out the bag in a big game like that.”

16 EDINBURGH RUGBY Official Programme Between Nic and Henry, they’re scoring machines, so it’s good to have them and have a bit of competition among the ranks.

17 scrum-half shook off any claims can really help boost the morale that he and his teammates would amongst the squad. be feeling the burn in returning to “Everyone’s been wanting to get 80 minutes of action. back to rugby, and get back to Despite the competition for the “Although it was voluntary, a normality, so it’ll be good to get a coveted No. 9 jersey, Shiel assures lot of the boys bought into their bit of atmosphere, and not have to us it’s all love behind the scenes training while we were off, with rely on ourselves to bring our own as he continues to develop under the mindset that we really want to atmosphere. the tutelage of the two seasoned finish this season off as potential “We can use that home advantage scrum-halves. Guinness PRO14 champions. as it is – and whilst there won’t “There’s always going to be “Obviously there’s still a bit to go, be as big a crowd as we’re used competition, and you’re always with Glasgow again and then the to, it’ll be good to have that bit going to be playing for a position Semi-Final, but there’s no reason of normality resume, and get in the squad, but Nic and Henry that we can’t do it. I think all the some atmosphere back into are two really sound guys and we hard work we’ve all put in over the BT Murrayfield. all get on really well. past few years, since Cockers first “To get two wins on the bounce got here, is really starting to show “The amount I’ve been able to against Glasgow will mean a huge through now.” learn from them has been huge amount. It’ll be another stepping and has really helped my game Looking ahead to this stone for us towards becoming an and how I’m progressing. It’s good weekend’s match against the even better team, and pushing on to learn as much as you can from same opponents, Shiel was into big games knowing we have players of their quality.” confident that Edinburgh had the the ability to win them. There’s Although Shiel – like the rest of the components necessary to come a huge bonus factor as well – Edinburgh Rugby squad – found away with a second consecutive knowing that you can beat your himself unable to train normally win, and believes that a returning, rivals – and that’s so important due to the ongoing pandemic, the socially-distanced home support for us.”

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Spire Healthcare22 offers over 300 EDINBURGHtreatments. See ourRUGBY website Official for the exactProgramme treatments at each hospital. Timings given are indicative, actual timings may vary based on consultant and tests required. VIEW FROM THE TERRACE The kind of rugby that makes you Get the latest view from sweaty, nervous, anxious, excited Edinburgh Rugby fan, and tense was back - and I think I speak for all of us when I say that I @theburghwatch! was delighted. When Edinburgh announced As the balance of the game ebbed that the home and away format and flowed, I bit my nails down of their fixtures against Glasgow to the quick and then started on Warriors would be switched, it my wife’s nails after that. At that unfortunately meant that I had to point, the cat looked at me funny rewrite my programme column! and did a runner worried he was The last paragraph of that now next. It was glorious to have that discarded feature said something feeling back. about Edinburgh and the path to success not being linear… In It was a typical 1872 Cup affair. my head that path looks like the Scrappy in places. A little bit feisty tracing on an ECG! at times and cagey all the way to Charlie Shiel’s wonderful solo try I spent most of Saturday before that settled the match and allowed the game just finding things to do us all to breathe a little easier. to while away the hours and, by kick off, my own ECG would have I’m sure I’ve said it before in this probably had me hospitalised. column - that laddie is going to be a star.

23 We seem to be thriving and I’m not even going to pretend to thanks to our own good work know what Cockers will do, but and Leinster’s ‘easy’ win against you have to say he’s got it bang Munster, a home Semi-Final on so far, and so deserves our against Ulster awaits. No need for confidence in whatever path he down to the wire nail biting this chooses for this particular match week in the second of the battles and the rest of this unique season. with our oldest rival. If there are to be fans at the game We have gone from a record high If you’ve watched any of the then congratulations if you are attendance at an 1872 Cup match recent post lockdown rugby one of them. You might even be to an unbeatable low attendance you’ll know that everyone is rusty reading this while you take your in only eight short months - which and trying hard to adapt to new seat BT Murrayfield! You now is bizarre in itself, but never has interpretations of old laws, so know the feeling of finding one the winning of that trophy meant for our capo dei capi there’s a of Willy Wonka’s golden tickets. so little and so much all at the tricky balancing act to undertake Make some noise for the rest of same time. this week. us and cheer on the team till you As fans, we dismiss its importance are hoarse. On one hand, there is that at our peril. It’s long been rustiness to polish out and those You represent all of us, even if something we could win every pesky laws to re-learn, and on we do hate you just a little bit season even if other silverware the other there’s making sure right now… was either unlikely or just plain we can take to the field against unachievable. A life raft of success Follow The Burgh Watch on Ulster with our strongest side. to cling to because only if you Twitter @theburghwatch survive can you possibly thrive.

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TL Light_RUGBY_Prog_Ads_FP v1 RM.indd 2 20/08/2020 15:53 OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS FOR CHAMBERLAIN

If back-to-back games against your rivals isn’t big enough, then try making your professional debut amidst the heat of 1872 Cup battle. Cool headed Nathan Chamberlain is up for the task at hand however, as he steps into the No.10 spot this weekend. After last week’s 15-30 victory in the first of two consecutive games against Glasgow Warriors, Edinburgh are gearing up for a second shot at their age-old rivals following their defence of the 1872 Cup in the previous outing.

26 EDINBURGH RUGBY Official Programme After a brief cameo at the end of though, and when the bench came last Saturday’s match, 20-year- on there was good work from them old Nathan Chamberlain is set as well. It was a good final score, to make his first start for the and even better to get a home club this weekend, after signing Semi-Final.” his first professional contract Chamberlain was one of those with Edinburgh earlier this year. impact players that made it off Chamberlain plies his trade at the bench in the dying embers fly-half, and speaking ahead of of the game, and while viewers tonight’s match, he reflected on only got a brief glimpse of the pulling on the Edinburgh Rugby youngster, he still felt the sense of jersey for the first time. accomplishment after all the work “I think it was a strong performance that has gone in behind the scenes from the whole squad.” he started. in the build-up to the fixture. “It was quite a tight game in the “It was a good achievement for first half, and there were a few myself – I was obviously a bit mistakes – but that’s coming off limited in terms of game time, the back of not playing for six but being in the whole match- months, so that’s kind of what day setup, and being around you’d expect. the players in a match-day “I thought the guys played really environment was really good.” well in the second half especially

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It’s been really beneficial talking to Jaco as well, with his experience in the Guinness PRO14 and with professional rugby in general. It’s good to learn from him - and I’ll keep learning from him for a long time to come.

28 EDINBURGH RUGBY Official Programme “At the start, [life in Edinburgh] was to the home Semi-Final against a bit brand new for me, because I Ulster next weekend. was living in Bristol with my family “I’m feeling good about Friday – so it’s different to what I’m used our mentality is to win this game to. I know most of the younger as well, which would set us in good lads at Edinburgh anyway though stead for the Semi. Personally, it’s because of the U20s so they’ve another big achievement for me – been very welcoming – as has the getting my first start for this club whole squad. – so I’m really looking forward to If we win, it’ll They’ve been very positive and it, and I’m very excited to see how supportive towards me – and the it goes.” give us a huge coaches as well have made me feel “If we win, it’ll give us a huge uplift really comfortable. I’m enjoying it, going into that Semi-final. I think and I’m really happy with how it’s uplift going into the boys are excited about that going so far” fixture. It’s going to be a first for After contributing 15 points from many of the players, so it’ll be new that Semi-final. his boot to earn Player of the to a lot of us, but I think everyone’s Match in Saturday’s 1872 Cup win, just excited to be involved in I think the boys there’s no doubt that Jaco van knockout rugby. der Walt is Edinburgh’s starting “I think that’s one of our main aims stand-off. However, Chamberlain are excited about as a club in general – we want to paid tribute to his positional be involved in knockout rugby, we competitor, and insisted he has want to be playing in finals and we that fixture. It’s much to learn from the South want to be winning those finals – African playmaker. so it’s a good stepping stone for going to be a “It was a good performance from us, and we’ve got a great level of Jaco on Saturday. He’s been the confidence going into it.” main guy that’s helped me a lot first for many of with the moves and stuff – as well as – so those two the players, so have really helped me a lot with my game. it’ll be new to a “It’s been really beneficial talking to Jaco as well, with his experience in the PRO14 and with professional lot of us, but I rugby in general. It’s good to learn from him – and I’ll keep learning think everyone’s from him for a long time to come.” Friday night’s derby encounter will be Chamberlain’s first start for the just excited to club, and the stand-off believes he, and the rest of the squad, are in be involved in the right frame of mind to make it a double over the Warriors, before carrying that momentum through knockout rugby.

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