What to expect from Edinburgh Rugby’s 4 new players amid club’s ‘new principles’

James Grayson, Geordie Gwynn, Alec Hepburn and Kienan Higgins will all have their first outing in Edinburgh colours in the first of two friendly matches the club will play before the United Rugby Championship season begins on September 25.

Head coach Sean Everitt is planning to play a different Edinburgh XV in each half against Ulster and has selected a youthful squad which includes a number of academy players.

Everitt is without his Scotland contingent who were involved in the Nations Championship and their return will be phased across the first two rounds of the URC. The coach also has a lengthy injury list to contend with but is looking forward to seeing his new arrivals in action for the first time.

Four new signings in action

Grayson, who joined Edinburgh from Japanese side Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars, will start against Ulster at stand-off; Gwynn, signed from Ealing Trailfinders, is at outside centre and Scotland prop Alec Hepburn, who moved from Scarlets to replace Lions-bound Boan Venter, is at loosehead. Kienan Higgins, the Aussie centre who played last season for New England Free Jacks, is on the bench.

“James Grayson has been involved in training for the last few weeks,” said Everitt. “Unfortunately, he picked up a hamstring injury at the latter part of his Japanese season. He's slotted in really well. We look forward to seeing what he can bring. He will benefit from the game time that he might get tomorrow night with the 40 minutes on the field.

“Geordie Gwynn's gone really well. He's running two positions in the pre-season [wing and centre] and tomorrow night he'll be playing at centre.

“Alec Hepburn, we know. We talk about him being a new player, but he's been part of the Scottish set-up for some time. Alec brings something different to the table than Boan Venter. Alec's really mobile around the park and he's equipped to play a fast game and also really sound in the set-piece. So, he brings a wealth of experience as well, having played international rugby for two countries, and he's been a massive influence on the youngsters at training, which has been brilliant for us.

“Then, obviously, we've got Kienan Higgins, who is the older brother of Riley, who will be arriving at the end of November. Kienan has shown some really good touches on the ball. He's a play-making 12, so it'll be exciting to see what he can bring and if he can add a different dynamic to us.”

The match will also see Edinburgh’s “new principles” put into practice. Forwards coach Stevie Lawrie spoke this week about working on a faster brand of rugby and Everitt elaborated on the theme. He feels the sport has been moving in that direction, citing the recent Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tests between South Africa and New Zealand as examples.

‘Last year we were pretty slow’

“I think for us it's about the new principles that we've installed over the pre-season, looking at the players that have been part of those training sessions, new players that are coming into the squad, as well as some youngsters that put their hands up in the under-20 World Cup recently and just to test the depth of our squad,” said Everitt.

“But more importantly, this exercise is for us to have a look and see what we've installed over the last couple of weeks, whether it's working or not.

“I think if you look at our defence, you'll see it. It'll be noticeably different, more aggressive off the line.

“From an attack point of view, the attack shape, we're looking to be more direct. And then obviously just speeding up the game, where I thought last year we were pretty slow.”

Everitt will also use the Ulster game to have a look at some of the club’s academy talent. Winger Fin Doyle, tighthead Jamie Stewart, lock Christian Lindsay and flanker Jack Utterson will all start the match and there are likely to be appearances in the second half for back-rower Sam Byrd and wing Rory McHaffie.

There is also a place on the bench for young James Dalrymple. The 18-year-old is part of the national talent pathway and came through at Melrose. He can play back-row or lock.

“James is a young guy who's just joined our academy,” said Everitt. “He's a big athletic loose forward and we're looking forward to seeing what he can do.”

Edinburgh v Ulster line-ups

Edinburgh v Ulster, Hive Stadium, Friday, 7.45pm

Edinburgh: 15. Piers O’Conor; 14. Fin Doyle, 13. Geordie Gwynn, 12. Mosese Tuipulotu, 11. Wes Goosen, 10. James Grayson, 9. Hector Patterson; 1. Alec Hepburn, 2. Harri Morris, 3. Jamie Stewart, 4. Christian Lindsay, 5. Glen Young, 6. Ollie Duncan, 7. Jack Utterson, 8. Tom Currie. Replacements: James Whitcombe, Jerry Blyth-Lafferty, Paul Hill, Euan McVie, Callum Hunter-Hill, Sam Byrd, James Dalrymple, Tom Dodd, Conor McAlpine, Ross Thompson, Rory McHaffie, Kienan Higgins, Matt Currie, Harry Paterson, Jack Brown.

Ulster: 15. Michael Lowry (capt); 14. Chay Mullins, 13. Ben Carson, 12. Daniel Hawkshaw, 11. Aitzol Arenzana-King; 10. Jamie Benson, 9. Matthew Devine; 1. Eric O’Sullivan, 2. James McCormick, 3. Tom McAllister, 4. Harry Sheridan, 5. Joe Hopes, 6. James McKillop, 7. Tom Brigg, 8. David McCann. Replacements: Henry Walker, Flynn Longstaff, Eduardo Bello, Ben Donnell, Eli Snyman, Martin Moloney, James McNabney, Clark Logan, Jake Flannery, Jonny Scott, Jed Findlay, Jack Murphy.