Latest news with #Whitcombe
Scotsman
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Edinburgh Rugby's two new signings: Scottish heritage, rugby league background, Welsh mentor
Props agree deals to join club for next season Sign up to our Rugby Union newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Edinburgh have strengthened their front-row options for next season by signing two new props who will link up with the club in the summer. James Whitcombe is joining Edinburgh from Leicester Tigers. | Getty Images Both are Scottish-qualified through grandparents and are likely to come on to Gregor Townsend's radar should they impress in their new surroundings. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad James Whitcombe, a loosehead, has agreed to move from Leicester Tigers on a three-year contract while Rhys Litterick is joining from Cardiff on a two-year deal. James Whitcombe is joining Edinburgh from Leicester Tigers. | Getty Images Whitcombe, 24, is a former England under-20 international and said he was looking forward to a new challenge with Edinburgh after five seasons in Leicester's first team. 'It's a fresh opportunity for me – a chance to challenge myself in a new environment, both on and off the pitch,' said the prop who was born in Keighley, Yorkshire. 'The chance to test myself in a new league, against different styles of rugby and international opposition, was a big draw. The URC is an exciting competition and I felt that Edinburgh was the right place for me to continue developing and push myself further. 'I want to help the club win trophies. That's the goal.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Whitcombe, who is Scottish-qualified through his Falkirk-born grandmother, played rugby league in his youth and has a strong lineage in both codes. His father, Martin Whitcombe, was an England B union international who played as a prop for Leicester, Bedford, Sale and Leeds Tykes in the 1980s and 1990s. His grandfather, Frank Whitcombe Jr, was also a prop who turned out for Bradford RFC, Keighley and the Army. Edinburgh's new signing is also the great-grandson of prominent rugby league players Frank Whitcombe and Thomas Cockcroft. Whitcombe himself began with Skipton RFC, then played rugby league for Keighley Albion before focusing on union with Bradford & Bingley RFC and Woodhouse Grove School, before joining the Leicester Tigers academy at 13. Following school, he travelled to Australia and played for Sydney University Colts in the Shute Shield before returning to Leicester for whom he has made 70 competitive appearances. Litterick, meanwhile, has long been linked with a Scotland call-up. The 26-year-old, who qualifies through his Glasgow-born grandfather, has featured regularly for Cardiff this season, making 18 appearances, including seven starts. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Rhys Litterick (No 18) moves in to tackle Marcus Smith during a Champions Cup match between Cardiff and Harlequins. | Getty Images 'I'm really looking forward to making the move to Edinburgh this summer,' he said. 'It's a huge club full of quality players who pride themselves on their set piece and physicality, which is something I want to be a part of and learn from. As a tighthead, I take a lot of pride in my set piece and working hard around the pitch. 'I want to keep improving as a player and learning as much as I can from the coaches and the boys around me. There's a great setup in Edinburgh and I'm keen to take full advantage of that. Hopefully, I can contribute as much as I can to push for silverware.' Litterick joined Cardiff from Harlequins ahead of the 2023-24 season, having been picked up by the English club while playing for Worthing, bypassing the traditional academy route. He was mentored by former Wales tighthead Adam Jones during his time at Quins.
BBC News
05-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Swansea dominate Cardiff in Welsh Varsity Boat Race
Swansea University swept away Cardiff University on the River Taff to take the honours in Saturday's Welsh Varsity Boat of the four races went to Swansea's crews to retain their grip on the title of top Welsh rowers in the event hosted in the Welsh men's senior eight beat Cardiff for the first time in a decade, with Cardiff's senior women taking the sole victory for their the wind picking up in the morning, Swansea's rowers had strong wins in both the men's and women's novice events over the 1.7km windy conditions continuing in the afternoon, Cardiff's women picked up their team's only win with a three-and-a-half length victory over their academic senior men finished the day with a convincing four-and-a-half length win, which their captain Oscar Whitcombe described as one of the club's best rows of the season"It was really windy at the top and really challenging. The wind again hit us as we came round the bend to Clarence Bridge, but we held in there," Whitcombe said."This sets us up nicely for the British Universities and Colleges (BUCS) regatta later in the season."Welsh beach rowing sprint international Frances Katirewa sat in the seven seat for Swansea's senior women, who lost to Cardiff, but coached the novice women's eight."It was an incredible win for the novice eight," she said. "I've been coaching them since October with the hope of a Varsity win at the forefront of their minds and then coming here today to win in very tricky conditions. I am so proud of them".Welsh Rowing senior national coach James Walker said the event was "a great opportunity" to talent spot on a pathway for rowers to go on to represent Wales and Great Britain."It was great to see Welsh internationals like Kiera Delaney and Menna Sutton on the water for Cardiff's women, but it was also an opportunity for other rowers to get into the spotlight," Walker said."We have rowers with Welsh vests here today, but in the past this event has seen competitors like Tom Barras and Josh Bugajski row for Cardiff and then go on to represent Wales and medal for GB at the Olympics."
