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)