Stuart McInally signs new long-term contract

Club captain Stuart McInally has committed his future to Edinburgh by signing a new long-term deal with his hometown team.

Scotland international McInally, who has made 142 appearances for the club, said: “I’m really pleased to have extended my stay at Edinburgh.

“The make-up of the squad, from players, strength and condition, medical and coaches is as strong as it’s been during my time here and I’m excited to be part of an ambitious group moving forward.

“Rugby-wise, I believe this is the best place for me to play and improve to become the best player I can.

“From an off-field perspective, I have a brilliant support team here in Edinburgh and their help in developing my next career as a commercial airline pilot is invaluable.”

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Edinburgh head coach Richard Cockerill added: “Stuart is an Edinburgh man who loves representing his hometown club.

“Whether it’s in a match, meeting or training, he leads by example. That leadership and captaincy is vital to this club and it shows in the respect he commands across the squad.

“We’re delighted that Stuart has re-signed on a long-term deal. He’s another local, Scottish international player who wants to represent this city.”

McInally became a regular in the capital club’s back-row during his second full season in professional rugby, featuring in 15 total fixtures, while he grabbed his first try for the club in a 19-20 European away win over London Irish in November 2011.

After switching from back-row to hooker in 2013 – a period that saw McInally join Bristol on a shot-term loan in 2014 – he returned to the capital to make his Edinburgh Rugby front-row debut against Ospreys in March 2015.

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— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 28, 2020

Subsequently, McInally was named in the Scotland squad ahead of the 2015 Summer Tests and made his international debut against Italy in Turin. The hooker went on to be named in the national team’s squad for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, but injury prevented him from taking part.

On the club front, McInally made his 100th Edinburgh Rugby appearance against Connacht in April 2017, before enjoying a stellar campaign in 2017/18 as Head Coach Richard Cockerill took the reins in the capital.

In a breakout year, McInally led his hometown club to the Guinness PRO14 Final Series for the first time in its history, while he started all but one of Scotland’s games in both the Six Nations and Autumn Tests, scoring three tries against Samoa (2) and Australia.

McInally was voted as the club’s Player of the Year following 2017/18 and was named as Scotland captain for the national side’s Summer Tour to North America.

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Named as club captain to begin the 2018/19 season – a year in which Edinburgh returned to the Champions Cup for the first time in five years – McInally skippered the capital side to memorable wins over RC Toulon, Newcastle Falcons and Montpellier as Edinburgh reached the Quarter-Final stages of the tournament.

The hooker continued as Scotland captain for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan and featured in all four pool fixtures against Ireland, Samoa, Russia and Japan.

Cockerill once again named McInally as Edinburgh Rugby club captain ahead of the 2019/20 season and the hooker returned to action to help the capital club secure their first win against Munster in Cork since 2004.

After starting in Edinburgh’s 29-19 bonus-point second leg win over Glasgow Warriors in December 2019, McInally was named in Scotland’s squad for the upcoming Six Nations campaign.