McHaffie shines as Edinburgh defeats Stormers

In the United Rugby Championship, Edinburgh secured a 17-13 victory against the Stormers at Hive Stadium on 2 October 2026. The matches began with Edinburgh looking to build on their momentum after a bonus-point win against Ulster the previous week. The hosts took an early lead with a long-range penalty from James Grayson.

The first half saw minimal action in either team's 22, with the referee's whistle dominating the play due to dropped balls. The Stormers, captained by Siya Kolisi making his first appearance in a Stormers jersey in over five years, struggled to penetrate the Edinburgh defense, with Liam McConnell successfully stealing three lineouts against the throw. Just before the half-time break, Magnus Bradbury's attempt to score was disallowed due to a double movement in the act of touching down.

After the break, Yaqeen Ahmed kicked two penalties in quick succession, putting the Stormers ahead in a game where a strong breeze affected both teams' attacking play. However, Edinburgh's defense forced the Stormers into a series of mistakes, and with just under 20 minutes remaining, Edinburgh scored the first try as Paul Hill crossed the line after a strong run by substitute Jerry Blyth-Lafferty.

The Stormers responded with a try by Hacjivah Dayimani, who powered over after a strong scrum, regaining the lead. Edinburgh, however, responded impressively, persistently attacking the Stormers line. After a crucial phase, the 19-year-old Rory McHaffie scored on his home debut by skillfully gathering Grayson’s pass and beating the cover defense.

Despite the Stormers' attempts to regain control with a penalty kick to the corner in the closing minutes, McConnell disrupted their lineout, allowing Edinburgh to secure victory. Head coach Sean Everitt expressed pride in his team's effort: "It was a very hard-earned win. I’m just proud of the effort that they put in and the path that they showed at home. It shows that they care."

Everitt noted the significance of the victory against a tough opponent and highlighted the positive impact on younger players, stating that it would build their belief and confidence. Edinburgh's lineup included players like O'Conor, Currie, and Grayson, while the Stormers featured players such as Gelant and Dayimani.