Edinburgh have announced that the Hollywoodbets Sharks’ Scotland international Dylan Richardson will be based in the country he represents internationally from next season.
Richardson has played six times for Scotland and would have more than that number of caps were it not for the injuries that have kept him sidelined quite often over the last few seasons. By moving to Edinburgh, he will be reuniting with a coach in Sean Everitt who coached him both at age-group level at the Sharks and when he made his breakthrough to the senior team.
Edinburgh have announced that the 26-year-old product of Kearsney College has signed for two seasons and Richardson, who is equally at home on the flank or at hooker, is looking forward to working for Everitt again.
“Coach Sean has played a significant role in my development as a player, and having the chance to work under his leadership again is something I am really looking forward to,” said Richardson.
“His belief in my abilities and his vision for the team made the decision to join Edinburgh an easy one. I have a lot of respect for him as a coach and as a person and I am excited to be part of what he is building at the club.”
Ironically Richardson was one of two fetcher type openside flanks that did well for Everitt when he first took over as coach at the Sharks, and it should not be forgotten that while Everitt’s career with the Sharks didn’t end well, he did coach them to the top position on the Super Rugby log before Covid intervened after seven matches in 2020. The other ball scavenging flank that did well for the Sharks under Everitt was James Venter, and the irony is that he is also off to new pastures at the end of the season, with English club Gloucester signing him for the 2025/2026 season.
What scuppered Everitt’s formula when it came to his loose-forward mix was when the Sharks’ American equity partners, MVM, came in with big plans to buy Galactico players, and it was Siya Kolisi’s move up the coast from Cape Town to initially wear the No 6 jersey that forced Everitt’s plan off track.
Unlike current Sharks coach John Plumtree, Everitt didn’t have a big say in contracting and that was a big part of the reason he didn’t continue his early progress as a Sharks coach when Covid came to an end with the South African landscape changed from what it had been before. Everitt had a problem with the number of first choice Boks lured to Durban, with it completely changing the culture that had been developing under the guidance of a coach who had worked with the young players from when he was the Sharks under-20 coach.
The Sharks’ policy of bringing in big name players who may see themselves as Boks first and foremost and Sharks second is something the jury should still be out on as the frequent periods when the Boks aren’t available is arguably a continuity killer. There is a dividing line between having just enough international players and too many and it is a very distinct line at this time when Boks are committed to playing in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship during what should be the local off-season and pre-season.
Everitt has been under pressure at times since joining Edinburgh but generally he has been received favourably, and favourably is how he received the news that his former prodigy, who has been capped 60 times for the Sharks since making his debut in 2019, has decided to put pen to paper.
“We’re thrilled to welcome a a player of Dylan’s quality to Edinburgh Rugby,” said Everitt.
“He is a strong and dynamic player who brings plenty of experience from his time at the Sharks and his international appearances for Scotland. His versatility, being able to play at hooker and in the back row, will be a real asset to us.
“Having worked with Dylan previously, I’m very familiar with his game and I know he will be a good fit culturally. He fits the profile of the squad we are trying to build here iat Edinburgh, and we’re excited to be welcoming him to the club this summer.”
Richardson’s versatility is similar to that of 2023 Bok World Cup winner and Stormers stalwart Deon Fourie and there was a time when the Stormers were hoping to lure him to Cape Town as part of the succession plan for the post-Fourie era. However, apart from the fact that Fourie is likely to extend his contract with the Stormers and play on for another season or two, the Stormers also have a lot of faith in the developing talent that is former national age-group star Paul de Villiers.