MyZA

News, Directory, Events and Other Stuff

You are here: Home / News / Sport / O’Conor and Whitcombe to Debut in Parma

O’Conor and Whitcombe to Debut in Parma

Summer signings Piers O’Conor and James Whitcombe will make their Edinburgh Rugby debuts in tomorrow afternoon’s BKT United Rugby Championship season opener against Zebre Parma at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi (Saturday 27 September, kick-off 3.05pm BST / 4.05pm local) – live on Premier Sports.

Fresh from last weekend’s pre-season victory over Ealing Trailfinders, the capital men head to Italy for their campaign curtain-raiser. Sean Everitt’s side will be keen to pick up where they left off after a strong finish to the 2024/25 season that saw Edinburgh return to the play-offs.

O’Conor starts at 13 having switched from URC rivals Connacht in the summer, while loosehead prop Whitcombe gets the nod up front, following a move north from Leicester Tigers.

Everitt can also call on returning British & Irish Lions duo, and club centurions, Pierre Schoeman and Duhan van der Merwe, both named among the replacements.

On the match, Head Coach Everitt said: “It’s brilliant to be back in action after a long block of work in pre-season. The BKT URC is a great league, and we can’t wait to kick-off our campaign in Parma tomorrow afternoon.

“Last time we came to Northen Italy it took a last-minute kick to earn a draw, so we’re well aware of the threat Zebre can pose. It’s going to take a relentless 80-minute performance at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi.”

Last year’s Scottish Building Society Player of the Season Wes Goosen starts the season opener at full-back, flanked by young Scottish wingers Jack Brown (20) and Harry Paterson (24).

O’Conor is partnered by James Lang in the centres, with Ben Vellacott and Ben Healy starting in the halves at scrum-half and fly-half respectively.

Debutant Whitcombe is joined by British & Irish Lions hooker Ewan Ashman and tighthead Paul Hill in the front row, as Scotland locks Grant Gilchrist and Marshall Sykes complete the tight-five.

New club captain Magnus Bradbury will lead out his side in the number 8 jersey, making up the back-row alongside openside flanker Luke Crosbie and blindside flanker Liam McConnell.

Edinburgh Rugby team to face Zebra Parma at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi in the BKT United Rugby Championship

Saturday 27 September (kick-off 3.05pm BST / 4.05pm local) – live on Premier Sports

15. Wes Goosen (55)

14. Harry Paterson (17)

13. Piers O’Conor*

12. James Lang (75)

11. Jack Brown (3)

10. Ben Healy (39)

9. Ben Vellacott (75)

1. James Whitcombe*

2. Ewan Ashman (38)

3. Paul Hill (14)

4. Marshall Sykes (84)

5. Grant Gilchrist (220)

6. Liam McConnell (5)

7. Luke Crosbie (110)

8. Magnus Bradbury (134) CAPTAIN

Replacements

16. Paddy Harrison (33)

17. Pierre Schoeman (134)

18. D’arcy Rae (27)

19. Sam Skinner (44)

20. Hamish Watson (179)

21. Charlie Shiel (74)

22. Findlay Thomson (1)

23. Duhan van der Merwe (103)

*Edinburgh Rugby debut

Unavailable: Charlie McCaig (knee), Rhys Litterick (achilles), Cammy Scott (hamstring), Ross Thompson (toe), Matt Currie (vertigo), Darcy Graham (ankle), Dylan Richardson (back), Callum Hunter-Hill (back), Ben Muncaster (back), Rob Carmichael (wrist), Connor Boyle (knee), Mosese Tuipulotu (knee)

Category: Tag:

If you feel strongly about this article then feel free to send MyZA a ‘Letter to the Editor’ using the submission form below:

Letter to the Editor

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
If this is in response to an article please include that article title here or as the lead in for the first paragraph of your Letter below.

Separate tags with commas

Localise your letter by naming the city your words are about. Add relevant words describing your subject. Single comma separated words of no more than 5
Your Name(Required)
Your Name will be linked to the website below.
Your personal, business or social media web site
Choose NO to not set up a user account on MyZA. User Accounts will allow you to submit letters under your own Author Name

3 Latest Letters to the Editor:

  • Fun South African fact

    Dear Editor Fun South African fact: towns like Franschhoek and Stellenbosch are home to world-class wine farms set in stunning, scenic surroundings. Regards Aressa Smith In Response to/From: Luxury Properties Seized in New Lottery Crackdown

  • Condolences on the Passing of Lusanda Dumke

    Statement by Leander Kruger MPL – DA Buffalo City Constituency Leader: The Democratic Alliance in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality mourns the passing of Springbok Women’s rugby player and Mdantsane trailblazer, Lusanda Dumke, who lost her battle with cancer at the age of 28. South Africa has lost an exceptional athlete, a leader, and a source…

  • Rape Kits Delivered, But…

    Statement by Nicholas Gotsell MP – DA NCOP Member on Security & Justice: The DA can confirm that 2 840 rape kits arrived in Cape Town on Monday, following sustained DA oversight and pressure after multiple police stations across the Western Cape were found to be without this critical forensic evidence tool. While this delivery…

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. England is the first country to play 1,000 Test matches. They reached this milestone at Edgbaston in Birmingham in August 2018 against India. England won the series 4-1.

  2. Sport Trivia: How many drop goals were \”dropped\” in the 1999 World Cup qualifier between England and South Africa, and by whom? Answer: Jannie de Beer – 5 drops in the 1999 World Cup,against England in Paris. South Africa won the match 44 – 21.