Edinburgh tie down scrum-half Hector Patterson until 2028 to fend off English and French interest

Edinburgh have handed emerging scrum-half Hector Patterson a new improved contract until the end of the 2027-28 season, acting swiftly to retain the 21-year-old after English Premiership and French Top 14 clubs were reportedly monitoring his situation.

Patterson has made eight senior appearances for Edinburgh to date, starting the final four matches of last season — scoring tries in his first two — and the opening four of the current campaign, including a try in a URC win at Ulster. His rapid rise came largely in the absence of injured first-choice scrum-half Ben Vellacott, and with new signing Louie Chapman yet to arrive from New Zealand.

The Hawick-born player had only signed a single-year deal when he agreed his first professional contract in April, making the swift renewal all the more significant. Patterson is also English-qualified through a grandparent, and his father Derrick won two Scotland caps as a scrum-half in the mid-1990s while playing for Edinburgh District.

“I’m really proud to have signed a new deal with Edinburgh,” Patterson said. “This is my club and I honestly didn’t want to be anywhere else. I love the direction we’re heading in this season and the attacking style that’s been brought in suits the way I want to play.”

Head coach Sean Everitt was equally enthusiastic about securing the youngster’s future. “Hector has a huge amount of potential. He’s gutsy and he cares about winning. We think he can be a big player for this club for years to come.”

Patterson came through the ranks at Jed-Forest and Hawick RFC before joining Edinburgh’s academy, and was part of the Scotland side that won the 2024 World Rugby U20 Trophy on home soil. His early-season momentum was briefly checked by a home defeat to Toulon in the European Challenge Cup, but Edinburgh otherwise sit top of the URC table after winning their opening three league fixtures.