'You couldn't write it' - Centre wants Edinburgh to do it when it counts

Centre Chris Dean is determined to make Edinburgh’s chances count in the season finale after signing a new contract ahead of what he feels are exciting times in the Scottish capital.

The former North Berwick and Edinburgh academy player has extended his stay at the club ahead of Saturday’s final United Rugby Championship league encounter of the season against Glasgow at BT Murrayfield.

The winners will secure Heineken Champions Cup rugby for next season as well as avoid a trip to face Leinster in the URC quarter-finals next month.

John Cooney – Broncos, Brad Thorn & Marcell Coetzee | RugbyPass Offload | Episode 34

John Cooney – Broncos, Brad Thorn & Marcell Coetzee | RugbyPass Offload | Episode 34

The 1872 Cup is also up for grabs with Warriors 13 points ahead following the first leg, and Dean labelled Saturday’s game a “massively exciting” prospect.

“You couldn’t write it – coming up against Glasgow decides it for us both,” he added.

“There has certainly been strides in the way we have played the game but at the end of the day it comes down to the business end of the season.

“What we have done three, four, five months ago has got us to this position but it’s about who can carry on the form and take the opportunities that are coming in the next few weeks.

“That’s probably somewhere we fell short in the past and that’s something we would like to reverse in the coming weeks.”

Dean has now scored 17 tries in 119 appearances for Edinburgh and has returned to the team with a bang in recent months, setting up two tries through offloads in the recent European Challenge Cup defeat by Wasps.

“I had a little bit of frustration at the start of the season,” the 28-year-old said. “I had a bit of bad luck with Covid and injuries and guys were playing really well, so I probably didn’t play as much as I would have liked. But that’s the way sport is.

“The last few months I have enjoyed getting on the pitch again, really enjoying the way we are playing.

“Some of the best memories I have had playing at home have been the last few weeks. Just the atmosphere and excitement the crowd has been bringing, which hopefully they will bring this weekend as well, has been great.

“I’m really excited to stay. It’s been my whole career and it’s the club I grew up supporting, so to be a part of it going into the future is really exciting.

“The way the club is going and the way we are playing is certainly exciting.

“Mike (Blair) came in and said, yes, we are a sport but we are here to entertain. I think we have certainly made strides in that and I think you can see from when we train and when we are on the pitch, we are always enjoying what we are doing.

“That’s the biggest thing going forward and should surely help for some success in the future.”

Meanwhile, Marshall Sykes is free to face Glasgow after his three-match ban was reduced to two games on appeal.