Taylor seeks closure after strong season

Edinburgh Rugby want recognition for their form this season even if truncated play-offs and European games is all they manage, believes young centre George Taylor.

The combative midfielder has had a bit of a breakout season for the capital side this year, but it’s all ground to a halt due to the coronavirus lockdown and he’s now staying busy by helping at his dad’s business, a veterinarian pharmaceutical company in the Borders which is regarded as essential work.

“Basically, I’m in the warehouse lifting boxes of horse tranquiliser instead of weights,” he joked. “It’s classed as key work and the vets obviously still need to look after their animals.”

There’s huge frustration at the club with players training on their own with equipment delivered to them just before the lockdown took effect, and the feeling the season might not now be completed.

“We’re used to playing on the weekend, that’s essentially your job,” he said. “It is a long season, there are times when you’re ready for your break between the games.

“But now after four weeks we just want to get back into it and back into our usual routine. On the mental side of things it’s important for the players too, making sure you’re on top of it. I’m keeping as busy as possible at the minute.

“We need a recognition of how well the season has gone for us. There was chat that we might manage to play Glasgow at home in the 1872 decider, and more chat we would have a home PRO14 semi-final.

“For the whole season to be void it would be pretty dampening on all the players and coaches. I would like to think the season does finish off in some ways. It would be good to have another game to reach the final if there is one.”

In the meantime, the players are focusing on staying on top of their fitness as best they can, he added.

“It’s not a light programme at all,” he said. “The Edinburgh S&C guys are pretty switched on in terms of keeping fitness levels up.

“They did a home delivery before all this lockdown happened with a lot of gym equipment and accessories for all the players, so they know what each player has and they’re sending out personal programmes in accordance with the equipment.

“In terms of the programme, we’re still running, doing fitness sessions three times a week, so the S&C staff and players are doing their best to keep us in shape.

“No one really knows when and if it will re-commence. We’re still staying ahead of the game just in case it does.

“I think you would need a full week of full training, then another week of full contact, building up to the game.”

While head coaches and administrators have taken a pay deferral, as yet there is no move on the players’ wages, added Taylor.

“There has been no discussion about that and as far as we know salaries remain the same,” he said.

“We have a good team working around us that progresses on that front.

“We are the first ones to know and as far as I am aware there is nothing mentioned to us.”

George Taylor has been helping out his father in warehouse.