EDINBURGH have confirmed that Magnus Bradbury, their 22-year-old captain, has been suspended pending a disciplinary investigation. His absence did not seem to affect his teammates, however, as they launched their European Challenge Cup campaign with a bonus point win at London Irish.

Bradbury, who had only just returned to action following a head knock, is being asked to explain a late-night incident last weekend during which he reportedly fell and hit his head on a pavement. Yesterday, the club issued a statement confirming the investigation: “The player is now subject to an internal disciplinary procedure and is unavailable for selection whilst this continues. Edinburgh Rugby takes any disciplinary issue seriously therefore the matter will be investigated and appropriate action will be taken,” it read.

It is embarrassing for the club, especially since Richard Cockerill, the head coach who took over in the summer, has made an improvement in off-field standards a major focus of his drive to revive the club.

It did not seem to matter much on the playing side, where his absence at the Madejski Stadium was hardly noticed as the side ran in five tries in beating an under-strength London Irish side. Not that it was anywhere near perfect as, for the opening quarter and most of the second half, they struggled to make much of their possession, but two flurries of scores proved enough.

The first came late in the first half when Damien Hoyland gave them the lead after London Irish fly half Theo Brophy Clews had landed an early penalty, and then Junior Rasolea, the centre later named man of the match, crossed twice on either side of the home team claiming their only try through prop Ollie Hoskins. The Scots left it late to claim the bonus point but then added a gloss to the score when Jamie Ritchie and Luke Crosbie, the back rows, both crossed in the final three minutes. Sam Hidalgo-Clyne. who took over from Jason Tovey first as kicker and later as fly half, landed the conversions to add even more gloss.

“I love goalkicking, I have not done a lot of it recently, I think that was the first time this season,” he said. “If the opportunity comes, I will take it with both hands. I enjoy it, it gives me a bit of a boost, a bit of confidence and makes me play well. Then I was just covering 10, we have had a few injuries unfortunately. Tovey picked up a wee knock so I went there to have a bit of fun really.”

With their next opponents Krasny Yar, the Russian qualifiers, having landed the biggest shock of the weekend with their win over Stade Francais, the reigning champions, Edinburgh know there can be no complacency as they prepare to travel to Moscow.

“I don’t know what sort of team Stade put out but I guess it puts a bit of pressure on us – we will have to play well next week, it is obviously not an easy place to go to,” Hidalgo-Clyne reflected. “I think they played Stade in Siberia, not in Moscow where they play us. It was a bit more travel, obviously not an easy place to go. Credit to them, we will look forward to playing them.”

Still, as Cockerill pointed out, if Edinburgh do get a result in Russia, they then have two home games before the double-header against Stade Francais in January, by which time they could be strong position when it comes to yet again qualifying for the quarter finals.