Magnus Bradbury opens up on new Edinburgh Rugby contract and World Cup goal

The 30-year-old returned to the Hive in 2024 after spending two season with Gallagher Premiership outfit Bristol Bears and was named skipper at the start of the current campaign. Although it has not been the best season as a whole for Edinburgh, the back-rower has been one of their stand-out players throughout.

His performances have caught the eye of Scotland boss Gregor Townsend, who called him back up to the national team for the 2025 Autumn Nations Test Series after three years in the international wilderness. Now the Oban native wants to force his way back into the starting XV for his country in time for next year’s finals in Australia.

“Easy decision” for Edinburgh skipper to sign new deal at club he loves

“It was an easy enough decision,” said Bradbury on signing his new Edinburgh contract. “I love it here and I came back for a reason. It’s an exciting place to be at the moment, lots of young guys coming through and new coaches.

“Obviously being part of the national team set-up for the first time in a wee while is a big part of it as well for me. In a World Cup year I think you would be pretty stupid to jump ship from a place like this. That's part of it as well for me.”

Returning to the Scotland set-up was always on the mind of Bradbury from when he re-signed two years ago. He added: “As I always say, playing well for Edinburgh leads to Scotland honours. I had an offer to come back here to a club I grew up at, closer to home and closer to Gregor and the telescope of Scottish rugby. So that was all part of it.

“After the USA game in the Autumn, that was the first time [playing for Scotland] in three years for me. It felt like my first cap all over again, it was an awesome feeling.

“As people say, being away from it makes the heart grow fonder. I want to have that feeling again. You can't replicate that feeling of running out at Murrayfield or running out in front of a packed out Aviva in a Six Nations or an Autumn game or whatever happens in the summer as well."

Despite dropping out of the international picture while at Bristol, the No 8 says he doesn’t believe that directly impacted his lack of call-ups or caps. He believes playing well wherever you are playing will reap rewards.

"The way my mindset has always been with Scotland is it's what's in front of you that matters and what was in front of me at the time was playing well for Bristol,” said Bradbury. “I knew after that first year, and I knew from peers down there and the coach down there, that I was playing well. To not then get selected, maybe that was the frustration for me, but I never thought it was gone.

“If I thought it was gone, I would have come back up here at 28 or 29. I know at that point I had seven or eight more years of quality rugby to give. So it's never gone.”

Bradbury also acknowledged that a single season extension is not a long-term commitment to the club but, crucially, did not rule out staying even longer if the circumstances are right. He added: “With a one year deal there'll be enough personal freedom with what I want to do after that. Whether that's stay or go, we can see what happens in a year's time.

"I'll take anything with completely open arms. If I re-sign, happy with that one-year here, I'd be happy. Rugby is a fickle thing and I'm 30-years-old now, I've got maybe, fingers crossed, five or six years left.

“Wherever that takes me next, it's the one year that's given me that freedom to see what happens. I love it here. I'm sure I'd love it in France. I'm sure I'd love it back in the Prem. So, we'll wait and see."

Bradbury won’t praise own performances if team aren’t getting desired results

Back to domestic matters and Edinburgh have two games remaining this season starting with a visit to Rodney Parade at the weekend to face Dragons in the URC. Bradbury, who is back fit following an ankle injury, is in line to make his 150th appearance for the club if he features.

“That just makes me realise how old I am,” joked the skipper. “It's funny at Edinburgh because you've got guys like Chunk (Allan Jacobsen), WP (Nel) and Gilco (Grant Gilchrist) that feel like they've been here for years. Gilco was one of the last players that was here when I started. So, whenever he disappears, I'll be the last one here for 2013.

“It makes you realise, gives you more perspective, but I love playing here. Luckily I started playing when I was younger and it just adds up very, very quickly."

Despite earning plaudits for his performances this season, Bradbury was candid when it came to patting himself on the back with the mentality very much that the team comes first. He said: “I'm never going to sit here and say I'm happy with how I've gone when I'm not on a team that's winning.

“I want to be part of a team that's winning. I want 1-23 playing the games of their lives every single week. I'm always happy to be playing in a team that I love but I'm never going to sit here and say I'm happy with how I've gone if the team's not doing as well as we should be."

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