Test British & Irish Lion and Scotland scrum-half Ali Price has joined Edinburgh Rugby on a season-long loan from Glasgow Warriors, that may well continue beyond that deadline.
Although touted as “on loan until the end of the season”, wording in the press release wishing him thanks for his service suggests Glasgow seem resigned to losing the 30-year-old half-back permanently.
Glasgow Warriors thanks Ali Price for his service over the past ten years.
Glasgow Warriors Press Release
Not yet back to Glasgow from his post-World Cup rest period, Price will now join the capital squad on Monday and be in selection considerations for next Friday’s home match against Vodacom Bulls.
Price made his first of 66 international appearances (46 starts) for Scotland in the 2016 Autumn Test win against Georgia, developing into one of the pre-eminent backs in the national side and, as of 2021, a Test match British & Irish Lion – making seven appearances on Tour, including three Tests.
I’m looking forward to finding my feet amongst a new group of players and seeing how I can work alongside the Scotland boys I’ve been in camp with before. This is a new challenge that I look forward to seeing where it can lead.
Ali Price, Edinburgh Rugby
Price also has 130 appearances for Glasgow but since the arrival of Franco Smith and Glasgow’s resurgence has found himself behind George Horne and at times Jamie Dobie in the pecking order. This doesn’t suit Price or Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend, who still favours Price and Toulon’s Ben White ahead of Horne for the national team.
Ali is a Test Lion and brings to the club a wealth of experience at the very top level of international rugby. We’re delighted to welcome him to Edinburgh and I’m sure he’ll be eager to get started straight away.
Edinburgh Rugby Senior Coach, Sean Everitt
A factor in the move was Scott Steele’s continued recovery from injury – he’s not expected back until the end of the month, while club co-captain Ben Vellacott sat out the weekend’s loss to Leinster in Dublin due to personal reasons. If those don’t allow him back then Edinburgh will have to rely just on Charlie Shiel, so signing an experienced head like Price looks like a good move.
