Another Edinburgh Rugby player leaves for England on loan

The stand-off has been sparsely used this term, appearing just three times for the capital club. His last appearance came as a second-half replacement in the 63-10 defeat by Bath in the Champions Cup on January 16.

It was announced last month that Healy, 26, would be leaving Edinburgh at the end of the season to join La Rochelle but his exit has effectively now been sealed as he joins the growing Scottish contingent at Newcastle.

“Ben is a quality addition who will greatly boost our playing pool between now and the end of the season,” said Neil McIlroy, Newcastle’s sporting general manager and former Jed-Forest prop.

Healy, who has been capped 10 times by Scotland and was Finn Russell’s understudy at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, joined Edinburgh from Munster in 2023. He was the leading points scorer in the URC in his first season in the capital and started every league game for Edinburgh. He also came off the bench in the 2024 Calcutta Cup win at Murrayfield.

Chance to work with legendary fly-half

However, he played fewer games last season following Ross Thompson’s arrival from Glasgow Warriors and has been seen rarely across the current campaign.

He becomes the second experienced Scotland international to leave Edinburgh on loan in recent weeks following the departure of Hamish Watson to Leicester Tigers.

Newcastle, who are owned by Red Bull, have signed up Scotland front-rowers George Turner and Elliot Millar Mills for next season. National coach Gregor Townsend works for Red Bull as a rugby consultant.

Healy said he was looking forward to working with Welsh great Stephen Jones who was recently appointed caretaker coach of Newcastle.

“I’m excited to be playing in a new competition, exposing myself to a different style of rugby,” said Healy.

“Gallagher PREM Rugby is a great production and it will be fantastic to be involved with that, having watched it so much over the years.

“Working with a legendary fly-half like Stephen Jones is also another big draw, and it’s an exciting time to be involved with Newcastle, considering everything going on around Red Bull’s investment at the moment.”