Edinburgh's international stars report for pre-season as new coach highlights a 'great mentor' in group

Edinburgh Rugby’s internationalists have now returned for pre-season training, with Sean Everitt’s new-look coaching team finally having a full complement of players to work with.

The individuals who were representing Scotland during the Nations Championship in July reported back to the capital club later than the rest of the group as they recuperated from a gruelling season. It’s now full steam ahead to their 2026/27 URC opener away at Ulster in ten days time, with a stop-off at Twickenham Stoop this Friday for a pre-season friendly against Harlequins.

The latest edition to the backroom team at the Hive is Michael Hodge, the former Waratahs winger who has joined as skills and contact coach after working with Ireland’s under-18 and under-20 sides. The Australian has been hugely impressed with the Edinburgh squad since arriving last month and singled out one particular player as someone he believes is a “great mentor” for the younger players.

“In the last few weeks we’ve had the internationals coming back,” said Hodge. “I could speak about all of them, but in my area I've been going really hard at the attack and breakdown and at the start of the season I talked about playing fast.

“A big part of that is our habit and what we do every single day and a guy like Pierre Schoeman – it doesn't surprise me what he does. He’s world-class and a British and Irish Lion, but to actually see it in the flesh, every single carry and every training rep, is incredible.

“When I'm trying to teach a young guy like Ollie-Blyth Lafferty what to do in a situation I don't have to show him a video. I just tell him to go and watch Pierre and Pierre's such a great mentor to a young kid like that who we hope is going to have a great future.

“It just makes my job that much easier to use these experienced guys to help these younger guys improve. I think that speaks largely towards himself but also to Sean [Everitt] and his ability to put a squad together and a coaching staff that breeds that growth as well. I think it's really exciting.”

Hodge also spoke about what his role in the coaching team looks like, his responsibilities and how he hopes to effect change in the group. The 37-year-old believes the players have been receptive to his methods so far and praised their attitudes.

He said: “Regarding my role, it's vast but I think it gives an opportunity to complement all four coaches but also work with the boys individually and I think that's something I'm going to go after and try and work with them more and try to get them better. It's been great to actually build a rapport with a lot of them as well.

“Coming from Ireland and being a little bit younger as a coach, you come into an environment and you want to make sure you make an impression, but I can't speak highly enough of the boys. I probably do things a little bit differently than they've done and they've taken it and run with it and it's been really impressive and I've really enjoyed it.”

Hodge also confirmed that a handful of the returning internationalists are in contention to play against Harlequins on Friday, including Freddy Douglas and Magnus Bradbury. That match is set for a 7:45pm kick off and is being streamed live by the home club.