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'Really difficult job': Edinburgh confirm the seven who are leaving
By Kim Ekin
Edinburgh have used their free week following their Challenge Cup exit last weekend to Wasps to confirm the names of the seven players who will leave them at the end of the current season. James Johnstone (centre), Ramiro Moyano (wing), Nathan Chamberlain (stand-off) and Sam Grahamslaw (prop) are all moving on, joining Ben Toolis, Magnus Bradbury and George Taylor (retired) whose departures were already been confirmed earlier this season.
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The club have just one regular-season hame remaining at home to Scottish rivals Glasgow before the URC quarter-finals and Edinburgh head coach Mike Blair commented: “First and foremost, it’s important to recognise that every player moving on has given their all to the jersey and we wish them the very best in their future rugby careers.
“It’s a really difficult job balancing the squad and the budget. We can’t keep everyone unfortunately and players move on for different reasons. We hope these players leave with fond memories of the club and feel that they have improved and been challenged.
“It’s been an absolute pleasure coaching them and they’ve all shown great commitment to better themselves and the club since day one. Their contributions both on and off the field cannot be understated and we wish them all the best for the future.”
Edinburgh Rugby leavers 2021/22
Ben Toolis (127 appearances)
Toolis will make the move to a Japanese Top League side following the 2021/22 campaign, his ninth and final season in the Scottish capital. The lock, who joined the club alongside twin brother, Alex, in 2013, made his Scotland debut in 2015 and has since gone on to win 26 caps for his country, earning selection for World Cup 2019 in Japan. With 127 appearances to his credit, Toolis will depart having already played the second-most ever games in the capital club’s second row and is only surpassed by current club captain Grant Gilchrist for appearances by an Edinburgh lock [172].
Magnus Bradbury (111 appearances)
Back row Bradbury leaves the club to join English Premiership side Bristol Bears. The Scotland internationalist and Scottish academy graduate joined the club in 2014, making his professional debut for the capital side at the age of 19. A product of Oban Lorne, Bradbury, who has since earned 17 caps for his country, became Edinburgh’s 36th club centurion in December, marking his 100th appearance with a player of the match performance against Benetton.
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James Johnstone (68 appearances)
A former Scotland 7s star, Johnstone burst onto the World Series circuit in 2013. The abrasive centre represented Scotland at the World Cup 7s in Moscow that same year before competing in the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. A product of Merchiston Castle School, Johnstone played his club rugby at capital-based sides Currie and Watsonians, before making his Edinburgh debut from the bench in the 2015/16 season-opening victory over Leinster. After breaking into the capital XV at the beginning of the 2017/18 season, the centre scored his first try for Edinburgh in the 24-19 1872 Cup securing win over Glasgow later in the campaign and will be fondly remembered for his breathtaking run and finish in that season’s European away victory against RC Toulon.
George Taylor (38 appearances)
Centre and former Scotland age-grade internationalist Taylor announced his retirement from rugby due to health reasons in January. He made the decision to hang up his boots with his own health and wellbeing paramount in his decision-making process while taking on a new career in the family business of veterinary pharmaceutical supplies. The centre made 38 appearances for the capital club – scoring six tries – since making his professional debut against Munster in November 2018.
Ramiro Moyano (13 appearances)
Moyano joined Edinburgh from French Top14 side RC Toulon ahead of the current campaign. The Argentine international made his Edinburgh debut in October 2021, starting on the wing in URC round three fixture against DHL Stormers at DAM Health Stadium. Moyano suffered a bicep injury in last month’s URC win against Zebre Parma – ruling him out for the remainder of the season – and he will leave having notched up nine tries in 13 appearances.
Nathan Chamberlain (11 appearances)
Chamberlain joined the club following an impressive 2020 U20s Six Nations campaign that saw him start all five matches, scoring 63 points in the process. He made his debut for the club against Glasgow in September 2020 and enjoyed a breakout game against Connacht in March 2021, which saw Chamberlain convert his own last-gasp try to secure a dramatic win. Chamberlain is currently playing in the Super6 with the Southern Knights.
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Sam Grahamslaw (5 appearances)
The loosehead prop made his Edinburgh debut in the home win against Cardiff in November 2020 and has since made five appearances for the capital club. Grahamslaw gained Scotland U20 honours in 2017/18 and went to the World U20 Championships in France, playing in all five games.
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Well done in putting Eddie's stats into perspective Nick. I'd like to see the try/phase stats after discounting tries from rolling mauls and intercepts. Reminds me of the story Rocky Elsom once told about how the Edster figured out that scrums only take up an average of 8 minutes a game. Apparently our Messiah thus concluded that the team should only devote 8 minutes to the scrum at training!
Go to commentsYo Nicholas. The crowd at the Roar told me you'd quit and I'd find your column elsewhere. Great to see you're still on the job. I enjoyed this, and and no wonder I missed you. Over at the other place, on the day before you posted this, I commented on the game against the Reds: "Carter Gordon was another interesting player on the field, although his form wasn’t well showcased in the match, which isn’t to say he didn’t play well, only that he didn’t particularly star. I know virtually nothing about CG, and wonder if I’m seeing a tall thin 10 who holds the ball with both hands and likes to tackle, besides everything else … I dare not say who that reminds me of." I was scared of putting the mocker on him, but now you've said it! Are we seeing the ghost of Bernie? Early days, but he's certainly refreshing.
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