Riley Higgins delay: why Edinburgh Rugby supporters will have to be patient for first look at star signing

The Wellington and Hurricanes centre, whose signing was announced on Sunday, will not arrive in Scotland until his team’s participation in the National Provincial Championship in New Zealand is over.

The regular NPC season will run until October 4, followed by the play-offs, with the grand final scheduled for the weekend of October 24-25.

Higgins, 23, helped Wellington win the NPC in 2022 and 2024 but Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt could be forgiven for hoping they don’t do as well this year. “Well, the sooner he comes, the better,” said Everitt.

“He’s contracted to the Wellington Lions for the NPC season, so he’ll be with us at the end of October.”

Seen as a future New Zealand international

The 2026-27 United Rugby Championship season will likely start in September and the first round of the European club competitions are scheduled for the weekend of October 17-18 so Higgins will miss Edinburgh’s early games. Nevertheless, it is an exciting signing and a signal of the capital side’s ambitions as a very disappointing campaign draws to a conclusion.

Higgins was seen by many as a future New Zealand international and played for the second-string All Blacks XV last season in a game against Georgia. A broken leg suffered last May while playing for the Hurricanes against the Highlanders in Super Rugby halted his progress and New Zealand’s loss would appear to be Scotland’s gain.

Higgins qualifies through his Ayrshire-born grandmother and is ambitious to further his international career by breaking into Gregor Townsend’s squad. Centre is a position of strength for Scotland, with Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones forming a formidable partnership and back-up coming from the likes of Rory Hutchinson, Stafford McDowall and Cameron Redpath. But the door is always open for new talent and Everitt believes Higgins can offer something different for club and country.

‘Passionate about playing for Scotland’

“We’re pleased to get Riley over the line,” said the Edinburgh coach. “Obviously there were a lot of things that he had to take into consideration - the fact that he played for the All Blacks XV last year and obviously he went well in Super Rugby last year.

“So it’s a big move for him, but he’s quite passionate about playing for Scotland. But yes, I’m delighted to have him. He’s a big ball-carrier and can add something different.

“It’s a great opportunity for him to represent Scotland. Obviously he’s got to play well - he’s up against some really good opposition in those positions. But being the quality that he is, I’m quite sure that it won’t take too long before he breaks through.”

Edinburgh, who have also announced the signing of former Scotland U20 winger Geordie Gwynn from Ealing Trailfinders on a three-year deal from next season, will be hoping to further strengthen their squad over the coming weeks. Having missed out on the URC play-offs for the third time in four years, the club has also overhauled its coaching staff, bringing in Brad Davis and Tim Sampson next season to lead on defence and attack, respectively, while retaining Everitt as head coach.

They have three matches remaining of the current URC campaign, starting with Friday’s home game against the Sharks. Injuries have blighted Edinburgh’s whole season and they have two more to contend with in the back row. Liam McConnell and Connor Boyle will both miss the game with the South African side after failing head injury assessments following last week’s win over Zebre.

Everitt cited Tom Currie and Dylan Richardson as players who are likely to step in a replace the absent duo but also said Tom Dodd was available and that Glen Young could do a job in the back row if required.

The coach is confident McConnell and Boyle will be available for the round 17 match against the Dragons in Newport on May 9.