EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - OCTOBER 17: Edinburgh's Duhan van der Merwe (C) celebrates scoring his side's first try with teammates (L-R) Sam Skinner, Cammy Scott and Charlie Shiel during a BKT United Rugby Championship match between Edinburgh Rugby and Benetton at the Hive Stadium, on October 17, 2025, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Ewan Bootman / SNS Group)
The opening exchanges of Edinburgh Rugby’s 2025/26 season have been a rollercoaster of drama and character-defining performances in the BKT United Rugby Championship.
The campaign began with a tough trip to Italy, where a back-and-forth battle against Zebre Parma at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi ended in heartbreak. The home side snatched victory with a last-minute penalty, leaving Edinburgh with two hard-earned losing bonus points in a 31-28 defeat.
Edinburgh’s wait for their first home game was then extended when the Round 2 clash against Ulster at Hive Stadium was postponed due to storm-force winds, pushing the eagerly anticipated fixture back to Friday, 13 March.
Attention quickly turned to a tricky Round 3 trip to Virgin Media Park to face Munster, a venue where Edinburgh had tasted success the previous year. Against the Irish province, the capital side came agonisingly close to victory, only to suffer another last-gasp defeat, going down 20-19—but once again securing a crucial losing bonus point, highlighting their battling spirit.
Fortunes finally turned in Round 4 back at Hive Stadium against Benetton. Delivering their most commanding performance of the season, Edinburgh ran out 43-0 winners, climbing back up the URC table and sending a clear message to their rivals.
Yet the drama wasn’t over, as October closed with a tense road trip to Cardiff Rugby at Cardiff Arms Park. Once more, Edinburgh were edged out in the final minutes, with the hosts sealing a narrow 20-19 win, marking another heartbreaker for Sean Everitt’s side.
Edinburgh now shifts focus to the Investec Champions Cup and the eagerly awaited December 1872 Cup derbies. The European campaign kicks off with a blockbuster home opener against French giants RC Toulon at Hive Stadium on Sunday, 7 December.
Immediately after, attention turns to the capital’s back-to-back clashes with Glasgow Warriors. With intercity bragging rights and the prestigious 1872 Cup—the oldest club derby in world rugby—on the line, these festive fixtures promise to be pivotal moments in the season for both sides.
