Edinburgh Rugby scrum-half’s race to be fit for start of season with new signing not due until November

The experienced No 9 missed the last three games of the 2025-26 campaign with the injury and had hoped to be able to work his way back to full fitness through rehabilitation. However, it was decided an operation would be required and he went under the knife last week.

His absence leaves Edinburgh short at scrum-half, with Charlie Shiel having left the club at the end of the season and new signing Louie Chapman from Crusaders not due to arrive from New Zealand until November.

Edinburgh do have two promising young players coming through in that position.

Two promising scrum-halves

Hector Patterson, 21, started the final four games of the season and made a big impression, scoring a couple of tries as Edinburgh won three of the matches. He signed his first pro contract with the club in April.

And Conor McAlpine is also regarded as a scrum-half of promise, having come through the club’s academy. The former Scotland Under-20 international signed a pro contract last summer.

However, both are lacking top-level experience and Edinburgh will be hoping the influential Vellacott, a former club captain, makes a rapid recovery.

Edinburgh, who missed out on the United Rugby Championship play-offs last season, open the new URC campaign against Ulster in Belfast on Friday, September 25.

Before that, they have arranged pre-season matches, the first one also being against Ulster, at Hive Stadium on September 4. Edinburgh will then head south to play Harlequins at the Stoop on September 18.