Currie returns for Castres clash

Edinburgh Rugby centre Matt Currie is set for his first minutes this season, starting at outside centre in this Sunday’s Investec Champions Cup clash against Castres Olympique at Stade Pierre-Fabre (14 December, kick-off 1pm GMT/2pm local) – live on Premier Sports. 

Currie returns to action following a spell on the sidelines due to vertigo for the Round 2 match-up in France.

Necessitated by both rotation and injury, Everitt makes several changes to the team that claimed a famous win against Toulon at Hive Stadium, with the Head Coach continuing to show trust in Edinburgh’s up-and-coming talent.

Homegrown 19-year-old tighthead prop Ollie Blyth-Lafferty – fresh from making his first professional start and penning his first professional deal – once again starts in the front row.

Full back Jack Brown (20), wing Lewis Wells (23) and back-row Freddy Douglas (20) are also starters as Edinburgh Rugby return to Castres having claimed a memorable Investec Champions Cup victory at Stade Pierre-Fabre in 2023/23.

On the selection, Everitt said: “After a great win last week we’re looking forward taking on Castres in their own back yard in the next round of the Investec Champions Cup.

“It’s a long season, and we’re in the middle of a ten-week block, so we need to use our full squad in this period. We’re giving a few of our younger guys a shot this weekend, and we’re excited to see how they go against another big French side.”

Brown starts at full-back for the first time in a capital XV, forming a new-look back three with Wells and Ross McCann.

Currie is partnered by Piers O’Conor in the midfield, with the summer signing starting at inside-centre for the first time since his move to the club.

Everitt names an unchanged half-back pairing, with Cammy Scott once again selected at fly-half alongside scrum-half Ben Vellacott, who captains the side.

In the pack, Blyth-Lafferty packs down alongside Scotland hooker Harri Morris and Springbok loosehead Boan Venter, the latter of whom scored Edinburgh’s bonus-point earning try last time out.

Locks Callum Hunter-Hill and Glen Young both come into the starting pack, paired for the first time this season.

Tom Dodd earns his first start of the campaign at number 8, alongside Douglas and blindside flanker Liam McConnell in the back row.

Adding a welcome boost to the matchday squad, back-row Connor Boyle is named on the bench. His inclusion marks his first appearance in over 12 months, completing his comeback from a long-term knee injury.

Edinburgh Rugby team to face Castres Olympique at Stade Pierre-Fabre in the Investec Champions Cup
Sunday 14 December, kick-off 1pm GMT/2pm local – live on Premier Sports

15.⁠ ⁠Jack Brown (4)

14.⁠ ⁠Ross McCann (15)
13.⁠ ⁠Matt Currie (64)
12.⁠ ⁠Piers O’Conor (6)
11.⁠ ⁠Lewis Wells (4)

10.⁠ ⁠Cammy Scott (22)
9.⁠ ⁠Ben Vellacott (80) CAPTAIN

1.⁠ ⁠Boan Venter (95)
2.⁠ ⁠Harri Morris (7)
3.⁠ ⁠Ollie Blyth-Lafferty (2)
4.⁠ ⁠Callum Hunter-Hill (22)
5.⁠ ⁠Glen Young (53)
6.⁠ ⁠Liam McConnell (11)
7.⁠ ⁠Freddy Douglas (10)
8.⁠ ⁠Tom Dodd (15)

Replacements

16.⁠ ⁠Ewan Ashman (43)
17.⁠ ⁠Mikey Jones (1)
18.⁠ ⁠Paul Hill (20)
19.⁠ ⁠Connor Boyle (42)
20.⁠ ⁠Hamish Watson (180)
21.⁠ ⁠Charlie Shiel (79)
22.⁠ ⁠James Lang (80)
23.⁠ ⁠Wes Goosen (61)

Unavailable: Pierre Schoeman, Duhan van der Merwe, Darcy Graham, Magnus Bradbury, Grant Gilchrist (all rest protocol), Charlie McCaig (knee), Rhys Litterick (achilles), Rob Carmichael (wrist), Mosese Tuipulotu (knee), Tom Currie (knee), Luke Crosbie (hamstring), D’arcy Rae (ankle), Sam Skinner (hamstring), Paddy Harrison (back), Ben Muncaster (knee), Marshall Sykes (arm), Harry Paterson (hamstring), Findlay Thomson (hand)