Edinburgh Rugby’s D’arcy Rae has signed a two-year contract extension after an impressive start to the 2023/24 season. The 30-year-old tighthead prop has been in exceptional form both at the club level and internationally, earning a place in Scotland’s Autumn Nations Series squad.
Strong Start to the Season
Rae has been a key figure in Edinburgh Rugby’s matchday 23 for all nine BKT United Rugby Championship fixtures this season, starting in four of them. His consistent performances have earned him a call-up to the Scotland squad, where he earned his second Test cap in the dominant 57-17 victory over Fiji at Scottish Gas Murrayfield. His form in the early part of the season made him a deserving candidate for an extended contract.
Rae’s Comments on the Extension
Reflecting on his new deal, Rae expressed his excitement and gratitude: “I’m really chuffed to have signed a new two-year deal. At the start of the season, I made the decision to properly commit to this city and this great club.”
Rae also emphasized his commitment to Edinburgh and his improved fitness after a full pre-season. “I’ve moved east, made Edinburgh my home and feel like a full pre-season is paying dividends. I’m in great shape and feel really confident every time I take the field at the moment.”
A Strong Rugby Legacy
Rae’s rugby roots are deeply embedded in the west of Scotland. He was part of the Ayr side that won the Premiership, Scottish Cup, and the Bill McLaren Shield in the same season at the age of 17. He represented Scotland at various age-grade levels, including 18 appearances for the U20 side in two World Rugby U20 Championships and two Six Nations U20 Championships.
His professional career began at Glasgow Warriors, where he spent eight years, making 85 appearances. Rae also had loan spells at Benetton Treviso and London Scottish. He made his Scotland debut during the 2019 Six Nations, and after a successful stint at Bath, he moved to Montpellier before joining Edinburgh ahead of the 2023/24 season.
Recent Success and Future Outlook
Rae’s recent contributions have been integral to Edinburgh’s success, including their intercity win over Glasgow Warriors in front of a club-record 40,063 crowd at Murrayfield, which lifted them into the URC play-off positions.
Edinburgh Rugby Head Coach Sean Everitt praised Rae’s form: “We’re really happy to see D’arcy extend his contract with the club. He’s started the season in great physical condition, and you can see how much he’s enjoying his rugby at the moment.”
Everitt added, “Having just turned 30, D’arcy is probably entering his peak as a tighthead forward. He’s hitting brilliant numbers in both the gym and on the pitch, so we think there’s still plenty more to come from him as a player.”
With Rae’s new two-year extension, both Edinburgh Rugby and Scotland are set to benefit from his continued contributions at the highest level.
