EDINBURGH RUGBY captain Stuart McInally has committed his long-term future to the club, which could see him end his playing days at Murrayfield.
The exact length of the contract has not been disclosed but McInally revealed he was in no doubt that remaining at the club he made his debut for in 2010 after joining as an Academy player the previous year was the best move for his career.
“I’m really pleased to have extended my stay at Edinburgh,” the 29-year-old said.
“The make-up of the squad, from players, strength & 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.”
Mcinally, who is currently in Spain with the Scotland squad ahead of their opening fixture of this year’s Six Nations against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday, was first named club captain at the beginning of the 2018/19 season and has made 142 appearances in ten seasons at Edinburgh, putting him tenth on the club’s all-time appearance list.
He began his pro career as a back-row but in 2013, switched to hooker, a move which saw him break into the national set-up. He made his international debut in 2015 and has gone on to win 32 caps, as well as captaining Scotland on a number of occasions, including at last year’s World Cup.
Head coach Richard Cockerill, who is currently presiding over an extremely encouraging season for Edinburgh, admits he was delighted to see McInally put pen to paper.
“Stuart is an Edinburgh man who loves representing his hometown club,” said Cockerill.
“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 joined the club’s Academy in 2009 in a class that included fellow Edinburgh Rugby centurions Tom Brown and Grant Gilchrist.
While still a back-row, he made his debut from the bench against Munster in September 2010, before making his first start for the club in a 24-19 win over Connacht at BT Murrayfield that November.
After switching from back-row to hooker in 2013, he then a period joined Bristol Bears on a shot-term loan in 2014 before returning to the capital to make his Edinburgh Rugby front-row debut against Ospreys in March 2015.
McInally made his 100th Edinburgh Rugby appearance against Connacht in April 2017, before enjoying a breakout year in the 2017/18 season.
McInally led his hometown club to the Guinness PRO14 Final Series for the first time in its history and was voted as the club’s player of the year fat the end of that season.
He was 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 where they reached the quarter-finals.
Cockerill once again named McInally as club captain ahead of this season with the hooker starting in Edinburgh’s bonus-point second leg 1872 Cup win over Glasgow Warriors last month.
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