Scotland U20 trio sign pro contracts at Edinburgh
● Coach Cockerill expects Darge, Boyle and Grahamslaw to step up next season
Edinburgh have completed the signings of former Scotland Under-20s trio Rory Darge, Connor Boyle and Sam Grahamslaw.
Back-row pairing Boyle and Darge both graduate from the FOSROC Scottish Rugby Academy and pen their first pro deals with the capital club, while prop Grahamslaw also joins from the Academy system and signs a pro contract having originally come through the ranks at Leicester Tigers.
Boyle and Darge, both 20, skippered Scotland U20 during the 2019 and 2020 U20 Six Nations campaigns. Grahamslaw, 21, is now back fully fit after suffering a season-ending injury during the 2019 U20 Six Nations campaign.
Head coach Richard Cockerill said: “We’re really excited to work with all three players and it’s just reward for their hard work and effort that they now pen pro deals with the club.
“We know Rory [Darge] and Connor [Boyle] extremely well having seen them progress through the age-grade system and now at Super6 level.
“They are two back-rows with differing styles, but they both have a huge amount of potential to go far in this game.
“Sam [Grahamslaw] is obviously a player that Scottish Rugby identified while he was at Leicester Tigers and he’s a prop with great physicality and ability in the loose. It was great to see him back fit for Watsonians earlier this season.
“All three players have impressed at Super6 level and we’re looking forward to seeing them make the step up this coming season.”
Current Scotland U20 skipper Darge – who can play across the back-row – came through the ranks at North Berwick RFC and follows in the footsteps of fellow East Lothian players Chris Dean and Lewis Carmichael in joining the club.
Darge saw game time at Melrose before joining the newly formed Super6 side, Southern Knights. The back-row made his Scotland Under-20s debut at only 17 years old, before celebrating his 18th birthday with a win over England Under-20s at Myreside in March 2018.
Although Darge missed the near entirety of 2019 through injury, he was back to best in 2020 as Sean Lineen named the back-row Scotland U20 captain.
On joining the club, Darge, said: “I’m delighted to sign my first professional contract with Edinburgh Rugby.
“Edinburgh is a club that works hard and I’ve been lucky enough to come in and train with the first XV squad this season, which stands me in good stead for transitioning into my first professional contract.
“It’s an exciting time to join Edinburgh. I hope to get my chance to represent the club and take those opportunities by playing well.”
A former pupil at the city’s Stewart’s Melville College, abrasive back-row Boyle has impressed at every age-grade, representing Scotland at U16, U18 and U20 levels.
He moved to Watsonians from Stew-mel while studying at Heriot-watt University.
The back-row was named as Scotland Under-20s captain for 2019 Six Nations – a campaigninwhichhegrabbedtwo scores – before being named in the Watsonians Super6 squad. Boyle saw game time in Edinburgh’s pre-season friendly with London Scottish in August 2019.
“It’s absolutely amazing to sign my first professional contract with my home club,” said Boyle. “I used to have a season ticket here, so to sign a contract for the team I used to come watch on Friday nights is a dream come true. I grew up five minutes away from BT Murrayfield and I’ve always dreamed about playing on the pitch for Edinburgh.”
Grahamslaw was picked up by English Premiership club Leicester Tigers and gained senior experience as a prop with Loughborough Students at National League level, Grahamslaw
gained a Scotland call in 2018 and went to the World Rugby U20 Championship in France, playing in all five games. He has joined Watsonians for the Super6 season but missed the near entirety of 2019 after picking up a back injury, but returned to full fitness earlier this year.
He said: “Playing for Scotland U20 was a brilliant opportunity and provided a great platform. They helped massively with the transition of my studies as I moved from Loughborough University and provided excellent medical support as I worked through a season-long recovery from a back injury in the 2019 U20 Six Nations.
“I’m very grateful for the opportunity that I’ve been given here at Edinburgh and I’m looking forward to getting stuck in and proving myself. It’s a brilliant environment and I’m looking to learn as much as I can from the players and coaches.”
“All three players have impressed at Super6 level and we’re looking forward to seeing them make the step up this coming season”
RICHARD COCKERILL