Supporter Update from Managing Director Douglas Struth

• 2 May 2023
• News

I wanted to provide you with an update on several key matters as our 150th anniversary season draws to a close, starting with a sincere and heartfelt thank you for your support throughout this, and many, campaigns. 

Results on the pitch were not what anybody involved in the club wanted them to be. Rest assured, everyone across the club continues to do their very best for Edinburgh Rugby every day, and we are all working very hard to ensure things get better.

As a club, we set ourselves the standard of being in the BKT URC play-offs every season and – despite positive results in the Heineken Champions Cup – we fell short this year.

Nevertheless, it was humbling to see almost 7,000 fans backing the team to victory in our final home game against Ospreys on Fan Appreciation Night. The support we’ve had this season has been outstanding.

Our average home attendance this season is another club record. In fact, of all northern hemisphere BKT URC clubs, only Leinster, Ulster and Munster had a higher average gate.

Our social media platforms are also among the fastest growing in the BKT URC and this season’s #OurBurgh campaign has seen 35 players engaging with local clubs and schools at 30 different events.

The progress we’ve made over recent years has been remarkable. Together, we’ve doubled club revenue, which has allowed us to manage an increasing cost base, build a new stadium, invest far more into the playing squad and match day experience, and make the club more financially sustainable than it has ever been before. This can only be achieved with your support, which we never take for granted.

Next Season: Season Ticket Memberships

The 2023/24 Season Tickets renewal window will start next in two weeks’ time (Monday 15 May), with the general sale opening in June.

Like most businesses and homes, our costs continue to increase dramatically. However, I also know times are hard for many of our fans. As such, I’m pleased to confirm the basic cost of a Season Ticket will not increase in 2023/24.

More details on this and several other exciting developments will be announced in the summer, so please continue to back us into next season by renewing or buying a Season Ticket when the time comes. That way, we can keep progressing and achieve what we all know to be possible – becoming one of the very best clubs in the BKT URC and in Europe.

Head Coach appointment

Another ongoing process is the recruitment of our new Head Coach, with Mike Blair having taken the positive, brave, and proactive decision to step back from the role at the end of this season. A huge thank you to Mike for all his efforts over the past two years.

The quality of interest in the Head Coach role has been excellent. While we would hope to conclude this process very soon, it is important for the future of the club to get this right, and not to rush. For that reason, Steve Diamond has agreed to oversee the start of our pre-season programme until at least August.

This allows us to take the necessary time to appoint a permanent Head Coach, safe in the certainty and security that a coach of Steve’s quality and experience is leading from the front meantime, accompanied by the stability of existing assistant coaches Michael Todd and the recently re-signed Steve Lawrie.

The squad for next season is also taking shape, with exciting new Scottish signings such as Ewan Ashman, Ben Healy, Javan Sebastian, Scott Steele and Robin Hislop joining key renewals such as Emiliano Boffelli, Dave Cherry and WP Nel; and promising players such as Paddy Harrison, Nathan Sweeney, Harry Paterson, Jacob Henry, Cammy Scott and Mikey Jones stepping up to first-year pro deals.

Our playing group for next season is looking world-class, and around 90% Scottish Qualified – an important part of our strategy to ensure that local players can become legends here at Edinburgh Rugby.

At this point, it’s also important to recognise the 14 players leaving the club – from club legends, centurions, leaders and fan favourites, to the younger players who will hopefully have a long career ahead of them – they have each given their all for the Edinburgh Rugby jersey. Our thanks and very best wishes to every single one of them.

Our tunnel wall displays the words “We’re All In”. Now, more than ever, those words are apt. Thank you once again for your ongoing support and please continue to back your club into next season.

Douglas Struth – Managing Director
#AlwaysEdinburgh