Edinburgh had been in talks with the former Scotland captain about a new contract, but were told a few days ago that he had decided to join the French Top 14 club instead. He has signed a two-year deal with Perpignan. 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.
As always I will be fully committed to the team until the end of the season. 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. They have already agreed new deals with Darcy Graham , Duhan van der Merwe and Pierre Schoeman in recent months — players who are arguably the most important in the squad given the relative lack of competition in their positions, not to mention their profile which helps with marketing.
/vidio-media-production/uploads/image/source/12923/08b75e.jpg "Girls Perpignan")
By contrast, while Ritchie will no doubt remain a valuable member of that squad for the rest of the season, Everitt will still have a sizeable cohort of back-row forwards from which to pick next season.
A move to new surroundings could also provide a helpful new challenge for Ritchie, who is battling to nail down a place in the Scotland team against the likes of Glasgow triumvirate Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge and Jack Dempsey. Perpignan are currently 11th in the French top flight, eight points clear of bottom club Vannes, so Ritchie can expect to be playing tough games week-in and week-out if they avoid the drop this year. Our Edinburgh-based experts advise both individuals and businesses across a range of sectors, providing accountancy, audit and assurance, business advisory, tax and VAT services.
Founded in , Saffery is the 15th largest accountancy firm in the UK by turnover and has had a presence in Edinburgh for over 30 years. Website: www. His best seasons may still be to come! Wish him all the best. Ritchie is ridiculously underrated by the fans. One of our few abrasive and combative forwards. Brilliant in the lineout, tackling and breakdown. For us to win on Sunday, he and Darge will be even more important than Finn.
