The Coaches, Medical, Training and Selection

Our Head Coach is Simon Cross, who has overall control of the rugby organisation for Edinburgh Accies. Before Simon took up his post with Accies, he was a professional with Edinburgh Rugby, where he was club captain for much of his eight years there. His rugby playing career saw him playing for Edinburgh over 90 times as well as representing Scotland at 7s, U21 and U19 levels. He was unlucky not to gain a Scottish cap, having been on the bench for the Wales vs. Scotland match in Cardiff in 2004.

During his professional career, he has been part of the SRU high performance coach development programme, coaching the Scotland U18 Squad, and already has eight years’ experience of coaching clubs. Simon's philosophy is always to run the ball first and he will be implementing that at Raeburn Place.

Supporting Simon with the 1XV backs is Jonny Else. Jonny has been coaching at Raeburn Place for a number of years and has brought the 2nd XV through to the National Division 1 of the Reserve Leagues.

The 2nd XV coaches are Malcolm McVie and Andrew Easson. Malcolm, who still occasionally turns out for the Classics, is in his second year of coaching and will take the forwards. Andrew, who will take charge of the backs, has been a professional with Edinburgh Rugby since 2006. As well as playing Magners League rugby, Andrew has represented Scotland at 7s, U20, and U19 levels. Unfortunately, Andrew's career has been dogged with serious injuries.

Graham Bonner and Troy Maclachlan will continue to coach the successful U20's, Blues (3rd XV) and Whites (4th XV) teams. Andrew Walker is our speed/fitness coach for the Blues, Whites and U20's. Between them all, they provide a wealth of experience to develop players' skills and standards.

Off the pitch, Rugby Co-ordinator John Wright, and the Team Managers Stuart Paterson (1st XV), Troy Maclachlan (Blues), George Menzies (Whites), Graham Bonner (U20's) and Malcolm McVie (Classics) work tirelessly to ensure we regularly put out five senior teams and occasionally a sixth in the Classics.

Baden Cashmore is the club's Head Physio and organises a team of physios to support each playing team - backed up by FASIC who are based in the Edinburgh University complex at The Pleasance in Edinburgh. Baden - or one of his team - will be available at the Club on Tuesday and Thursday evenings for strapping only. Individual treatment for injured players is by appointment at Raeburn Place on Monday and Wednesday evenings.

Training during the first part of season is on Tuesday and Thursday evenings starting - that is CHANGED AND READY - at 7pm. When the light goes, Tuesday’s training continues to start at 7pm whilst Thursday’s will be staggered with the 1st and 2nd XV squads ready to go at 7.30pm and everyone else as normal at 7pm. There are weight facilities though they will be away from Raeburn Place.

Teams will be selected on Wednesday nights and communicated by e-mail by Thursday lunchtime. Players must intimate to their team manager by 2pm on Wednesday if they are unavailable for selection that week.