EDINBURGH have recruited the experienced dup of stand-off Tom Swiel and back-row Mitch Eadie on short-term deals as World Cup cover, while the likes of Jamie Ritchie, Hamish Watson, Luke Crosbie, Viliame Mata, Ben Healy and Blair Kinghorn are away on international duty.
Swiel, aged 30, has spent time at Western Province, The Sharks, Harlequins, Newcastle Falcons and DHL Stormers, while Eadie, aged 31, has featured for both Bristol and Northampton Saints in the English Premiership.
The duo joins the capital outfit with immediate effect, and will now both be embedded with the team as pre-season preparations continue for the upcoming campaign, with Edinburgh set to host Connacht (Friday 29th September) and Bath Rugby (Friday 6th October) at Hive Stadium in Scottish Building Society pre-season friendlies.
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Edinburgh Rugby today welcomed both players to the club, describing their signing as ‘bringing an excellent level of professionalism and experience to the squad.’
“We’re delighted to welcome both Tim and Mitch to Edinburgh Rugby,” said Senior Coach Sean Everitt. “It’s excellent they’ve been able to get started straight away and I’ve got no doubt they’ll hit the ground running as we continue to build towards the new season.
“Both players bring an excellent level of professionalism and experience to the squad having been involved in pro rugby for a long time, and they’ll both provide competition in two key positional groups.
“I worked with Tim at The Sharks when he first broke into their Currie Cup squad. He’s a really clever player who can help push on a fellow ten, Charlie Savala – a young guy who has also impressed us during this pre-season period.
“Mitch played for a long time at Bristol and also represented Scotland Under20 in his younger years. He’s a battle-hardened back-row who will bring plenty of grunt, but also some street smarts to our young back-row group.
“With players heading to the Rugby World Cup in their respective positions, it was vital that we were able to bring in guys to compete at the start of the season. We’re really excited to see how both players make their mark in the coming weeks.
English-born, but raised in Cape Town, stand-off Swiel came through the ranks at Western Province, where he represented the regional age-grade sides at U16, U18 and U21 levels.
Swiel joined The Sharks – where he developed his game under Sean Everitt – before making the move to English rugby, signing for Premiership side Harlequins after an initial loan-period at Twickenham Stoop.
Swiel played alongside Edinburgh Rugby’s top try-scorer and club centurion, Tim Visser, as well as current centre James Lang during four years in the English capital, before heading north to join Newcastle Falcons.
The stand-off – who also represented South Africa Schools in his younger years – returned to South Africa in 2020 with DHL Stormers and started in the 20-all BKT United Rugby Championship draw against his new club at Hive Stadium in 2021.
Bristol Rugby through and through, Eadie made over 130 appearances for the West Country side after joining his hometown club at the age of 18.
An age-grade internationalist, Eadie represented Scotland at U20 level, pulling on the thistle 11 times from 2011 to 2013.
The Bristolian’s strong play and revered work ethic saw him earn two Players’ Player of the Season awards from his peers, helping the then-Championship side gain promotion to the Premiership at the end of the 2015/16 season.
The back-row joined Northampton Saints in 2017 – bringing an end to a seven-year stay at Ashton Gate – where he made 27 appearances in three seasons in the Midlands, lifting the Premiership Cup and reaching the final-four of the Premiership in 2018/19.
Eadie returned to Bristol at the start of the 2020 season and has since featured for the Toronto Arrows in the MLR (Major League Rugby).
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