Edinburgh boss addresses links with Scotland's Premiership stars
Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt has revealed he has held talks with Bristol Bears No.8 Magnus Bradbury about a possible return to the club this summer, whose move was reported by RugbyPass.
The Scotland international joined the Gallagher Premiership side two years ago but has seen his Test career stall since moving south, having won the last of his 19 caps during the 2022 Six Nations.
But he remains on national coach Gregor Townsend’s radar having been called into his training squad midway through this year’s Championship, without making a match-day 23.
Bradbury, 28, has scored eight tries in 18 matches for Bristol this season, including two in the Bears’ last outing at Gloucester on March 30.
But with Edinburgh’s Fijian No.8 Bill Mata joining Bristol this summer, a move back to the club where he made his name may appeal to the back-rower, who can also play at blindside flanker.
Asked whether Bradbury was among his possible targets to replace Mata, Everitt said: “Yes. We have spoken to a number of players. It’s just whether they are available or not and if they want to accept the opportunity here at Edinburgh.”
Bradbury made his senior debut for Edinburgh as a 19-year-old in 2014 and was made captain at 22 under former head coach Richard Cockerill in 2017, the year after his Scotland debut.
But he was stripped of the captaincy a few months later after an internal investigation into an off-field incident in which he suffered a head injury during a fall on a night out.
“With Bill leaving, we are looking for a replacement,” Everitt said. “In saying that, we do have Ben Muncaster, Tom Dodd and Connor Boyle who have played really well when they have had the opportunity. We’ve also got Under-20 players coming through like Liam McConnell and a young guy like Tom Currie, and pre-season will help with their development. But we are certainly looking around to see who is available to come in and fill those boots.”
Another player linked with a return to Edinburgh is Leicester centre Matt Scott, who the Tigers announced last week would be one of five players leaving the club at the end of the season.
The 33-year-old started his career with Edinburgh and after a two-year stint at Gloucester had a second spell in the Scottish capital before joining Leicester.
But asked whether talks with Scott had resulted in a contract offer being made, Everitt said: “Not at this stage.”
Meanwhile the South African has warned his squad that “time is running out” for some senior players to win silverware as they digest the fallout from their European Challenge Cup quarter-final defeat by Sharks in Durban last weekend.
It was Edinburgh’s eighth quarter-final defeat in domestic or European competition in the last eight years, in addition to a semi-final loss in the old Pro14 in 2020.
“I think it’s up to us to rectify that,” said Everitt, whose side sat fourth in the United Rugby Championship a month ago but have dropped to ninth, a point outside the top eight play-off spots, with five matches left – starting with Saturday’s visit of Scarlets.
“I think the players are aware that maybe they’re not achieving what they should. They’ve certainly had opportunities and that’s why it was so disappointing on Saturday because they were so close to achieving something probably not a lot of people had given us hope for.
“With the player group that we have and the responsibilities that we have and some of the players knowing that they are coming to the end of their careers, time is running out.
“We did speak about that last week. We say we want to win something, then you get yourselves into a position and you say ‘don’t worry, we’ll do it next year’ but your rugby career is very short and sometimes you run out of time. So I think it’s a good opportunity to get that right now.”
Edinburgh led 16-14 at half-time in Durban but conceded 10 second-half penalties as they capitulated under the weight of Sharks pressure, two late tries giving the final 36-30 scoreline a flattering look.
Everitt warned he will get tough with repeat offenders if the indiscipline continues.
“We spoke openly at the beginning of the season about being an 80-minute team, and at the moment we’re not performing for 80 although we are finishing strongly in the last 10 minutes in all the games,” he added.
“There’s always been player responsibility but if you’ve run out of options and you’re not getting a reaction, then you have to be more severe on the consequences.
“We all know, and I state it openly, that if we concede less than 10 penalties, we win. That’s a trend of Edinburgh – you can’t go out and concede 14 and expect to win.”
Comments on RugbyPass
A Springbok 2-0 win: haha told you we were champions now shut up An Irish 2-0 win: the referee was under orders from world rugby to cheat us but luckily we don’t care because this is part of Rassie’s grand world Cup plan.
103 Go to commentsI hope they didn’t pay Jones fee?
2 Go to commentsTo be fair, the teams he's had to put out are reminiscent of those available to Gatland during his horrible run at the Chiefs in late 2020. Anyway, he's only got a two year contract and Wellingtonian Tamati Ellison will be ready by then, as will a lot of talented youngsters (like the Chiefs Gatland blooded). The Crusaders are planning for the long term.
5 Go to commentsGreat to see more community spending leading to higher participation in the community. It's a long road but that's a good first step.
2 Go to commentsPoetic justice for trying to sell him to Australia as another kiwi saviour coach, not ! Deans was just as bad actually but McCaw and Carter covered up for him. That’s why they didn’t want him as All Black coach, even after Graeme Henry’s bumbling effort in 2007.
5 Go to commentsSACK HIM !
5 Go to commentsSafas are so triggered by Ireland. 3 consecutive losses, incl RWC. 8 losses out of last 12 Tests. Always excuses, of course, with Bok fans. Now Rassie with his “88%” nonsense, the Claytons Excuse is an embarrassment to Bok teams of the past when every test mattered. Their fickle mojo will be on edge for the Ireland tour. Have the referees been appointed yet ? They will need security. Have WR laid out strict guidelines for TMO’s and replays on the stadium screens ? Will the constant stoppages from Bok forwards for cramps and bootlaces be tolerated ? We’re not talking a dominant Springbok team here, they won the LOTTO Cup and they know it whether they admit it or not. The Disney doco has their fans positively fermenting internally, its going to be a nasty hangover if they get beaten on home soil. What will the excuses be then……
103 Go to commentsGreat role model.
2 Go to commentsOne significant tell, not a single Waratahs player stopped to whinge to the ref about Finau’s tackle. They got on with playing the game. Great tackle.
8 Go to commentsWouldn’t be a bad move if Ireland pulled into SA with a young side. Particularly in Pretoria. Invaluable experience getting thumped in the bosveld.
103 Go to commentsIreland. The Princess Diana of Rugby. I never cheered so much for a team as i did for the All Blacks in that QF.
103 Go to commentsWill be great to see the Leinster first XV back in action again after their cotton wool time…
1 Go to commentsLooked up Grant Constable on google and reply was doppelgänger for Ben Smith
103 Go to commentsIt is so good that we now all get excited and debate who is best and emotionally get involved. We all back our teams which is great. Up until about 15-20 years ago, NZ was basically on its own, and then Saffa, Aussie and sometimes French and English were there. We now have at least 5-6 really top sides and another 4 who keep improving. This is so healthy. So we should not resort to rubbish comments and unhealthy debate, but rather all be chuffed that the product we watch is not competitive, exciting and often uncertain. It would be so good if World Rugger could find a way to align the rules to professional players as well as spectators. Live rugby games are SO boring as there is SO much down time as we wait for refs and TMOs and whoever else to look at every small event going back endless phases with the hope of eventually find a minute infringement to then decide cancel what was a wonderful try. This is the ultimate cork back in the bottle moment and feels like every balloon is always being popped. Come on- we must be better with the rules.
103 Go to comments“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
2 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
103 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
103 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
103 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to comments