'One of Edinburgh Rugby's greatest ever players' signs new deal

Veteran Scotland second-row Grant Gilchrist has signed a one-year contract extension with Edinburgh Rugby, committing to a 16th season at his boyhood club.

The 35-year-old lock brought up his 231st appearance against Zebre last weekend — a tally that places him second on Edinburgh’s all-time list behind Allan Jacobsen.

A product of Alloa RFC and Stirling County, Gilchrist made his debut back in 2011 against Cardiff and has since cemented his status as one of the club’s modern greats.

He has started 11 matches for Edinburgh this season and despite being dropped by Scotland after an opening-round defeat by Italy in the Guinness Six Nations, returned to the match-day squad for their final three games, winning his 88th cap against Ireland.

That landmark saw him surpass Scott Murray to become Scotland’s most-capped lock of all time.

Fixture

United Rugby Championship

Edinburgh

11:45

24 Apr 26

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Gilchrist, whose new deal takes him through to the 2027 Rugby World Cup, said: “This club is everything to me – it always has been. I’ve never wanted to play anywhere else, and that hasn’t changed. As long as I feel I can compete at the highest level and give everything I’ve got for Edinburgh, I’ll keep going. The day I can’t do that is the day I’ll walk away – but that day hasn’t come yet.

“I still feel in a great place physically and I’m really motivated going into next season. There’s also a responsibility I feel to help the next generation of players coming through – to pass on what I’ve learned at this club. That matters to me. Signing again was honestly a no-brainer.”

Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt added: “Grant is one of Edinburgh Rugby’s greatest ever players – I don’t think there’s any argument about that. But what makes him special is that he makes it easy to say that week in, week out, because he never gives you a reason to think otherwise.

“It’s still a genuine pleasure to coach him every single week. His leadership is so vital to everything we do – on the pitch, in the changing room, around the whole squad. He sets a standard and the players around him rise to it. To get him locked in for another season is brilliant news for this club.”