club captain Bradbury signs on for another season

Club captain and centurion Magnus Bradbury has signed a one-year contract extension, keeping the Scotland international back-row at Hive Stadium through to the end of the 2026/27 season.

The announcement comes ahead of what promises to be a landmark moment for the 30-year-old, with Bradbury set to make his 150th appearance for the club against Dragons RFC this weekend.

Bradbury has been one of Edinburgh’s standout performers throughout the 2025/26 campaign, featuring in 18 matches – 15 of those as a starter – and crossing for three tries.

He also made a return to the international stage, pulling on the dark blue of Scotland for Autumn Nations Series fixtures against USA and Tonga, as well as the Six Nations clash against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium.

Off the field, his influence has been equally significant. A trusted voice across the changing room, Bradbury has played a key role in the development of the next generation of Edinburgh back-rows, with Freddy Douglas, Liam McConnell and Tom Currie among those to have benefited from his experience and guidance.

A product of Oban Lorne RFC, Merchiston Castle School and the club’s academy system, Bradbury made his Edinburgh debut against Leinster in October 2014 and went on to become the club’s 36th centurion.

After two seasons with Bristol Bears, he made his return to the capital in 2024 and was appointed club captain ahead of the current campaign – a role he has embraced with distinction.

On extending his stay, Bradbury said: “There’s only one place I want to be, and that’s here. This club means everything to me – it always has – and pulling on the jersey every week as captain is something I don’t take for granted for a single second.

“It obviously hasn’t been the easiest of seasons at times, and I’m very aware of that. But I really hope the supporters can see what’s being built here. The growth over the last few games has been real, and I want us to go out, win these remaining matches, and finish the season on the front foot.

“Working with Sean [Everitt] has been brilliant. I understand exactly what he’s trying to build here, and I’m fully bought into it. And when I look at some of the signings coming in next season, alongside the homegrown talent we have coming through, I’m already excited. There’s something special being put together here.

“I take huge pride in being captain of Edinburgh Rugby. This city, this club – it’s home.”

Head Coach Sean Everitt added: “Magnus is a true leader in every sense of the word. He commands enormous respect across that changing room – when he speaks, players listen. That is not something you can manufacture; it comes from who he is and how he carries himself every single day.

“He has played a huge part in helping bring through the next generation of Edinburgh players, and that contribution shouldn’t be understated. The likes of Freddy, Liam and Tom are better players for having Magnus around them.

“He is set to make his 150th appearance for this club this weekend, and it is worth taking a moment to appreciate what that means. Magnus is already an Edinburgh legend – and now he’ll have another season to add to that story.”

Bradbury’s extension is the latest in a busy period of contract activity at the club as Edinburgh continue to build towards the 2026/27 campaign.

Paul Hill, Grant Gilchrist and Mosese Tuipulotu are among the senior names to have committed, while academy prospects Hector Patterson, Jack Brown, Jerry Blyth-Lafferty, Euan McVie and Ollie Duncan have also been handed professional deals.

On the recruitment front, stand-off James Grayson is the most recent senior arrival, joining centre Riley Higgins, scrum-half Louie Chapman, back-three specialist Geordie Gwynn and prop Alec Hepburn in signing ahead of next season.