Both of Scotland’s professional clubs are going back to the future with their summer signings – with Magnus Bradbury and Matt Scott both returning to the capital, and Adam Hastings moving back to Scotstoun.
The trend of players moving away early in their careers before returning is a path well-trodden, with Richie Gray among those to have made a success of his time overseas before returning to add real impact with the Warriors.
But how successful has it been overall?
We’ve gone through the archives to look back at some of those who came back to either Edinburgh or Glasgow for a second (or third, in Scott’s case) spell
Glasgow Warriors
Richie Gray
A young Richie Gray made his Glasgow debut towards the end of the 2008/09 season and made 47 appearances during his first spell with the Warriors before departing for Sale Sharks in 2012.
After a single season, at the end of which he earned selection for the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia, Gray swapped the north-west for France with a move to Castres, where he spent three years before attracting the attentions of Toulouse.
A four-year spell in Toulouse culminated with a Top 14 title win and Gray’s experience has been invaluable at Glasgow second time around, helping steer the club to the URC title last season.
The big man has a huge influence over the current Warriors squad - and arguably his second stint at the club will have a more long-lasting impact than his first.
Niko Matawalu
The original ‘Weegie fae Fiji’ was a huge hit among the Glasgow supporters during his first spell, a three-year stint that finished with the Pro12 title win in 2015.
An unhappy spell followed at Bath, then Exeter, before Matawalu returned to Scotstoun in 2017, spending a further four years at Scotstoun and amassing over a century of appearances for the club.
Across both spells was a master entertainer – a joy to watch with ball in hand and an elusive runner - whether on the wing or at scrum-half. He ranks among Glasgow’s greatest overseas signings.
Leone Nakarawa
Another in the category of best overseas signings is Leone Nakarawa, whose virtuoso performance in the Pro12 final nine years ago set the tone for a stunning Glasgow win.
At his pomp, the Fijian was one of the top forwards in world rugby with an offloading game to rival the likes of Sonny Bill Williams. First time round, he enjoyed a hugely successful three years at Scotstoun.
Then came a big-money move to Racing 92 where Nakarawa was named EPCR European Player of the Year in 2018 before an acrimonious exit after the 2019 Rugby World Cup, for which the Fijian attempted, unsuccessfully, to take his former employers to court recently.
His second spell, sealed early in 2020, was a disaster. He was well off the pace and looked a shadow of the player who had been one of European rugby’s superstars. The end of his second spell was no surprise: Ulster was meant to be the destination but they ripped up his contract after Nakarawa failed a medical.
Now 36, the veteran lock is with Castres, but for his first Scotstoun spell, deserves a place among the Warriors greatest ever signings.
Adam Hastings
The youngest member of the famed Hastings family joined Glasgow Warriors from Bath in 2017 and helped the club reach the play-offs under the guidance of Dave Rennie.
In his second season, Hastings continued to impress and was named Pro14 Young Player of the Season as Glasgow reached the league final at Celtic Park, losing to Leinster.
In the summer of 2020, Hastings signed for Gloucester, but despite reaching the Challenge Cup final last season, his two years at Kingsholm were hampered by injuries.
If he can put those in his past and rediscover the form he showed during his first spell at Scotstoun, Hastings could re-establish himself as the first-choice understudy to Finn Russell at international level.
Edinburgh
Fewer players who have been tempted away from the capital have been persuaded to rejoin, which is perhaps an indication of their success elsewhere.
Chris Paterson
Scotland’s record points scorer spent eight years with Edinburgh before leaving for Gloucester in the summer of 2007 amid a dispute between the club and Scottish Rugby, which saw national team players prevented from taking part in Scotland training.
Paterson moved to Kingsholm having established himself as one of the premier goalkickers in world rugby but endured a difficult season with the Cherry and Whites. A horror show with the boot in a Heineken Cup quarter-final defeat to eventual champions Munster was the nadir of his single season outside Scotland.
Paterson returned to Edinburgh the following summer and spent the remainder of his career with the club – and continued to represent Scotland, winning his 100th cap in 2010 -before retiring in the summer of 2012.
Magnus Bradbury
The Scotland back-row spent eight years at Edinburgh during his first spell, making more than 100 appearances for the club before moving to Bristol.
Bradbury established himself as a first-pick for Bears coach Pat Lam, winning Players’ Player of the Season in his debut campaign. He started every Premiership match last season. With Bill Mata moving to Ashton Gate, Edinburgb made their mark and resigned the 28-year-old.
Having been out of the international picture for two years, Bradbury will hope his return to Scotland helps put him back in Gregor Townsend’s thoughts.
Mata has been the outstanding Edinburgh back-row of the past decade, so stepping into the role he’s vacated won’t be easy, but Bradbury has the credentials to mix it with the best.
Matt Scott
Having come through the ranks at Currie, Scott helped Edinburgh into the Heineken Cup semi-finals in his debut campaign, forging a formidable centre pairing with fellow Scotland cap Nick de Luca.
His first foray into the Premiership came in 2016/17 when he joined Gloucester, but two years later left the club with no contract offer on the table.
He returned to Edinburgh and again established himself as a regular in the side under Richard Cockerill, before once more departing in the summer of 2020 for Leicester Tigers.
Scott spent two years at Welford Road and helped the club win the 2022 Premiership title before being released at the end of last season.
Edinburgh last month announced his return, with Scott aiming to add his experience to the club’s impressive midfield ranks.
At 34, he will do well to have the same impact third time around, but Scott still has plenty to offer – particularly when sides are shorn of their internationalists.
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