1
Edinburgh statement: Ben Vellacott contract extension
By PA
Ben Vellacott is excited by the direction in which Edinburgh are heading after the scrum-half signed a new multi-year deal with the URC club. The 27-year-old has made a positive impact in the Scottish capital since moving to DAM Health Stadium from Wasps 18 months ago and was rewarded with his first Scotland cap earlier this year.
Vellacott is looking forward to enjoying more positive moments after committing his future to Edinburgh ahead of Friday’s 1872 Cup showdown away to Glasgow. “It was a really easy decision for me,” Vellacott told the Edinburgh website after signing his new deal.
“I’m loving the direction the club is going in and the ambition the club has for the future. But, most of all, I’m loving playing footy with my best mates. Edinburgh is a very cool place with so much to do and to be able to experience it with my fiancee is really special.
“We have a list of places we want to visit or eat out at which is good fun ticking off, while we are getting married up here in summer 2024 and we’re both really excited.
"Being able to play the sport I love in so many different countries has been brilliant - I’m very grateful to have that opportunity with Edinburgh Rugby moving forward. I just want to help the club perform to its highest potential and compete with the very best in Europe.”
Edinburgh head coach Mike Blair described Vellacott as a model professional. “The way he carries himself in both sessions and matches, takes on extra training or analysis, or the way he shares advice to younger players are all positive behaviours that have made him a real leader in our squad,” said Blair.
“He is a really dangerous attacking player who brings an added spark to everything we do going forward. He is also a hugely popular member of the playing squad and someone that brings an energy to training every single day. Long may that continue.”
Blair is relishing the prospect of trying to lead Edinburgh to a first away win over Glasgow since 2018. “I love it, you can see a buzz and energy around training,” he said when asked about derby week. “Glasgow have a great home record.
"We have talked about not having won there since 2018 and that’s a great challenge for us that we want to take on. We obviously want to quieten the crowd and impose our game. These derby games are always hard to call.”
Trending on RugbyPass
2
Robertson says Italy sensed All Blacks' weaknesses
3
All Blacks player ratings vs Italy
4
Scotland's Sione Tuipulotu admits anger at Australian rugby
5
Latest Comments
The difference between Fassi and Le Roux?
Almost 100 tests. Fassi is growing from test to test and is already world class. It’s going to be difficult for Damian Willemse to usurp Fassi at 15 and may find himself destined as the utility back on the bomb squad.
South Africans love hating on their fullback. A proud tradition since Percy Montgomery (before he won us a World Cup). So I don’t pay much mind to the noise that follows anyone who puts on the 15 jersey for SA.
15 is a high risk, low reward position. You don’t dare drop a high ball, certainly don’t shank a kick into the stands. In fact if you’re not kicking 60m torpedoes into the opposition corners - stay at home.
And miss tackles? After everyone else on the team has let a break through - best you not miss!
Only Andre Joubert strikes me as a fullback that has been better than Willie. Yet Willie has been widely panned on a regular basis. Irritating.
Fassi is great. And I’m sure he’s learning a lot from Willie.
Go to commentsNo, Penney's win rate as a Super Rugby coach BEFORE he was given a 2 year contract here, was 23%. He came in with a very poor success rate at SR level.
This loser vibe was borne out over the SR season where we won only 4 games while losing 10. Finishing 9th in a 12 team competition & missing a QF spot was next level DOWN.
There's zero evidence that suggests we will win 10 games (70%) as you predict. I understand there may be new assistant coaches coming on board. At this stage, we can only hope for the best.
Go to comments