The 2026-27 Season Begins!

Hello Northerners,

High summer in Edinburgh is upon us. The aroma of wood-smoke from the annual Salisbury Crags wildfire hangs in the nostrils, the chatter of conversation and clink of glasses from the frankly limited number of beer gardens soundtracking the city as it lolls in yet another heatwave without adequate air conditioning. 

For many, summer is the season where idleness acquires a quiet dignity, and doing nothing becomes a meaningful act in itself.  That is, of course, unless you play for ENRFC, Edinburgh's most social rugby club…

Our playing squad have been back in pre-season for three weeks today, with head coach Jamie McCann putting the lads through their paces with an “exciting” regime of fitness, skills and tactical shape. It’s very pleasing to report that amongst the familiar bodies sweating it out on Tuesdays and Thursday in Inverleith Park there has been an increasing number of fresh faces - many of whom look like great additions even at this early stage of their Northern story. The hard work now will build a great foundation for a squad capable of competing - and hopefully challenging - across both the 1st and 2nd XVs leagues this season. 

Of course, the litmus test will be in actual fixtures, and with August bearing down on us like a horde of American tourists rolling towards a Gold Brothers tartan tat shop, there are a number of pre-season fixtures to tell you about. 

Our first game of the season will be on August 8 against former East 3 rivals Lismore (h), followed by a fixture against reformed Queensferry RFC (h) on August 15. Further friendlies against Livingston (h) on August 22 and Penicuik (a) on August 29 followed, with the latter including a barbeque generously provided by our hosts.  

We move into league action on September 5 with the 1st XV opening their East 2 season away to Leith RFC, whilst the 2nd XV start as they finished last year with a trip to Haddington RFC - tough trips all round, but hopefully two wins on the road. Those games will be followed by the annual Recruitment Pub Crawl, to which all members are invited. 

We’ll leave you there, salivating either at the prospect of rugby in the month to come or the cold pints, and with a promise to try and write more content as we move into the season. A reminder that all are welcome to contribute - either in writing, ideas or both - and if you're interested, please reach out to our zany and humorous web developer Cameron Blackwood.

Your in rugby, 

ENRFC