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Scotland hooker Dave Cherry might have performed his final sport for Edinburgh after being dominated out for six weeks with knee ligament harm.
The 34-year-old was not supplied a brand new contract after seven years on the capital membership and is shifting to French membership Vannes subsequent season, having joined Edinburgh from one other French facet, Stade Niçois, in 2018.
Cherry loved a global renaissance when he began all 5 video games on this 12 months’s Six Nations after being recalled to Gregor Townsend’s squad for the primary time since being compelled house early from the 2023 World Cup.
However he injured the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) in his knee late on in final Friday’s 18-17 URC defeat by the Sharks, which left Edinburgh in eleventh place within the desk, three factors off the highest eight.
Except they qualify for the quarter-final play-offs, which can in all probability necessitate successful all three of their remaining video games in opposition to Zebre (away), Connacht (away) and Ulster (house) – Cherry’s membership season might already be over.
“We don’t want to call that now, but if it works out like that, it will be a pity because every player needs to have a farewell game,” said head coach Sean Everitt, confirming the hooker “won’t be available for six weeks”.
“Sport can be cruel, but let’s be optimistic about it. Hopefully that type of injury that he has, the players are able to play with it. So I’m holding firm that he will be available at the end.”
Edinburgh’s last regular-season game is against Ulster on 16 Might. A six-week absence will even rule out Cherry ought to Edinburgh progress to the European Challenge Cup ultimate on 23 Might. They host Premiership leaders Bath within the semis per week on Saturday, 3 Might.
Whereas Cherry’s Edinburgh profession might have ended prematurely, Everitt insisted that flanker Hamish Watson will nonetheless be on the membership subsequent season.
The 33-year-old’s future appeared doubtful when he was omitted of 4 consecutive video games in December and Everitt mentioned Watson was “taking a backseat” as he opted to present youthful gamers corresponding to Freddy Douglas and Tom Dodd game-time in an already fiercely aggressive back-row space that includes Scotland internationals Jamie Ritchie, Luke Crosbie, Ben Muncaster and Magnus Bradbury.
However whereas declining to present any particulars round a brand new deal, Everitt confirmed Watson, a 2021 British & Irish Lion who gained the final of his 59 Scotland caps on the 2023 World Cup, shall be extending his keep within the capital right into a fifteenth season.
“In the meanwhile, Hamish is round with us subsequent season,” he mentioned. “He’s carried out very nicely for us during the last three or 4 months. We’re truly blessed for expertise in that place in the meanwhile and we do rotate this group.
“Hamish has had quite a lot of breaks throughout the Six Nations, then he got here again and performed his 4 video games in a row, and it simply reveals that we’re taking care of the wellbeing of the participant.
“He’s had per week off, and he’s going to bounce again this weekend within the beginning jersey. It’s nice, to begin with, that he’s getting kind on the proper time and that we do have his expertise to lean on. Hamish is staying at Edinburgh.”
Watson, together with Scotland wing Darcy Graham, returns to the beginning facet to face Zebre in Parma on Friday, a match introduced ahead 24 hours to avoid an official day of mourning following the death of Pope Francis.
The withdrawal of Scotland hooker Ewan Ashman with a shoulder problem meant Edinburgh travelled to Italy with out 17 injured gamers, plus rested duo Pierre Schoeman and Jamie Ritchie.
Within the absence of Cherry and Ashman, Paddy Harrison begins at hooker on the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, with the inexperienced Harri Morris becoming a member of the bench.
There may be additionally a primary skilled begin for 19-year-old academy wing Jack Brown, within the continued absence of Duhan van der Merwe, Emiliano Boffelli and Wes Goosen.
Edinburgh crew:15. Harry Paterson; 14. Darcy Graham, 13. Matt Currie, 12. James Lang, 11. Jack Brown; 10. Ross Thompson, 9. Ali Value; 1. Boan Venter, 2. Paddy Harrison, 3. D’arcy Rae, 4. Glen Young, 5. Sam Skinner, 6. Ben Muncaster, 7. Hamish Watson, 8. Magnus Bradbury (capt)
Replacements: 16. Harri Morris, 17. Robin Hislop, 18. Angus Williams, 19. Grant Gilchrist, 20. Freddy Douglas, 21. Charlie Shiel, 22. Cammy Scott, 23. Mosese Tuipulotu
