Scotland star to leave Edinburgh after 11 years
Yesterday at 06:35 AM
NEWS: Scotland's Jamie Ritchie is set to leave Edinburgh after 11 years to join Perpignan at the end of the season
Edinburgh had been in talks with the former Scotland captain about a contract extension but the flanker revealed his plans to join the French Top 14 club instead.
He has signed a two-year deal with Perpignan.
The 28-year-old Ritchie made his Edinburgh debut in 2014 and became a full Scotland international in 2018.
In 2021 he signed what was hailed to be the longest contract in the club's history. Four years on from that deal, Edinburgh would ideally have liked Ritchie, still only 28, to extend his stay further but needed to balance a number of factors, including the player wage budget and developmental opportunities for a number of exciting back-row prospects.
Ritchie joined the Scottish capital side straight out of Madras College at 17. He made his senior debut in 2014 and has spent his entire professional career with Edinburgh, reaching the 100-cap mark last season to become the team's 40th centurion.
"I have literally grown up at this club over the last 10 years and this has been an incredibly hard decision for me and my family to move on," Ritchie said on the Edinburgh website. "I have absolutely loved my time here and I am extremely grateful to everyone who has been a part of that journey, this club means so much to me.
"I just feel that now is the time for a new challenge in a new country and for us as a family to experience a completely different lifestyle. As always I will be fully committed to the team until the end of the season.
Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt added: "We have tried our best to keep Jamie at the club but we must respect his personal decision. We wish him the very best in this move to Perpignan. He has spent 10 great years at the club. He joined us as a schoolboy and leaves as a proud centurion.
"There is still a lot of rugby to be played until the end of the season and we know Jamie will give his all every time he pulls on the Edinburgh jersey."
Perpignan are currently 11th in the Top 14.
