Edinburgh Rugby’s head coach, Sean Everitt, has officially confirmed that the club has been in discussions with Bristol Bears’ number eight, Magnus Bradbury. The 28-year-old Scottish international, who previously captained Edinburgh, has been linked with a potential return to his former club after two years with Bristol.
Bradbury has been a pivotal player for the Bristol Bears, making 40 appearances for the club and delivering impressive performances. This includes a standout display in Round 14 of the Premiership, where he recorded the most dominant carries and scored two tries against Gloucester. However, with Bristol securing the services of Fijian international number eight, Viliame ‘Bill’ Mata, from Edinburgh ahead of next season, a potential swap deal could be on the horizon.
When asked if Bradbury is being considered as a replacement for Mata, Everitt responded, “Yes. We have spoken to a number of players. It’s just whether they are available or not and if they want to accept the opportunity here at Edinburgh.” He also mentioned that the club is searching for a replacement for Mata, but highlighted the talents of other players in the team, including Ben Muncaster, Tom Dodd, and Connor Boyle, as well as up-and-coming prospects like Liam McConnell and Tom Currie.
As for Bristol Bears, the composition of their backrow for the 2024/25 season remains uncertain due to ongoing contract negotiations. Despite this, the club has already secured deals with Argentina duo Benjamin and Santiago Grondona. Additionally, the club captain Fitz Harding is a versatile player across the back of the scrum. However, the future of Chris Vui at the club is still unclear, leaving a potential gap in the squad with the absence of the Samoan international.
Edinburgh Rugby’s interest in reacquiring Magnus Bradbury demonstrates their ambition to strengthen their squad and compete at the highest level in the United Rugby Championship. With ongoing developments in the transfer market, it will be interesting to see how the situation unfolds for both clubs and the players involved.