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Edinburgh name 'two of the most committed players' as co-captains

By PA
(Photo by Edinburgh Rugby)

Scotland pair Grant Gilchrist and Jamie Ritchie have been named as the Edinburgh co-captains for the upcoming season. The long-serving forward duo will share the role for the new campaign, which gets underway this weekend when the Scottish capital club hosts Dragons at DAM Health Stadium on Saturday.

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Both players have been at Edinburgh for their entire senior careers. Back-rower Ritchie, 26, is named co-captain for the first time and joins Gilchrist, 32, in a joint leadership role, with the experienced lock and club centurion appointed co-captain for the third consecutive season and fourth overall.

“I’m really proud to have been named co-captain alongside Jamie this year,” said Gilchrist. “It’s hard for me to put into words what Edinburgh Rugby means to me. It’s been such a big part of my life. Living in Edinburgh with my family, we have such a connection to the people and the city – so to be named as co-captain is such an honour.

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“I look at the list of captains who have come before me in both the amateur and pro eras and there are so many guys there that I look up to.”

Ritchie has been one of the club’s most consistent performers since signing a senior deal straight out of high school aged just 17. “I’m extremely proud to be named as co-captain. Edinburgh Rugby is a club that means so much to me – it has been a massive part of my entire adult life,” said Ritchie.

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I’m hugely excited to be working with Grant. We have a great relationship. We share lifts into training in the morning and he has been here for my entire time at the club. His experience will be invaluable for me to learn from. He is a real Edinburgh Rugby legend and I’m massively excited to be named co-captain alongside him.”

Head coach Mike Blair, who captained the club in both 2009 and 2010, added: “We’re delighted to appoint Grant and Jamie as our 22/23 co-captains. They both epitomise what it means to play for Edinburgh Rugby.

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“They are two of the most consistent and committed players we have at the club, while they command respect across the dressing room because of the way they lead by example. I’d like to also mention Stuart McInally alongside our co-captains. Although he doesn’t have an official captaincy title this season, he will continue to play a significant role in our leadership group.”

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PM 22 minutes ago
Why Henry Pollock's x-factor could earn him a Lions Test start

Nick,

I am a long suffering England fan, who has had to endure watching 4 years of dull rugby, poor selections and painful defeats. Steve Borthwick talks about GPS and picks squads by numbers and then we put in a poor performance on the pitch - it’s been a consistent trend.


Something changed in the Six Nations and we totally changed our style (literally overnight) and played some really good footie, which finally felt like positive rugby for a change.


Genge has regained his pore-Covid form and is looking back to his best and is head and shoulders above Porter.


Chessum has had a good year and hasn’t played a poor International game this season.


Tom Curry was outstanding in the 6 Nations but they have been playing him at 6, wheras he is better at 7 and is lethal at the breakdown.


Tom Willis was brought into the starting team at 8 and has been one of the best England players over the last year, who should have been on this Lions tour at 8. Earl had his best game since 2020 last week - not sure 1 game warrants Lions selection over a poor combination side and he is certainly second choice for his club 7 country behind Willis.


Pollock will be a good player but like all young emerging players, he is inconsistent and can go quiet in games, which is why Curry should be the starter at 7. He brings energy to games, which is why he is good from the bench but there is an argument to say he is the 5th best England openside (Curry x2, Underhill & Earl are currently better) but will improve over the next 5 years. We just need to stop the media building him up for a fall, let him play and develop and you will see a sensational Henry Pollock for the Lions in 4 years time.


Lions will be too powerful over 80 mins, so doesn’t really matter who they pick. Just please don’t put too much hype on Pollock. His 20 mins of International rugby going into this tour were positive but the media caused a frenzy and no other player would be selected on this basis.


Let’s enjoy the rugby and give Pollock the space and time he requires.

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