Magnus Bradbury cleared out his locker at Edinburgh two years ago to embark on a new challenge but he’s returned to his old place in the dressing room as a more mature man. 

The 29-year-old enjoyed a successful two years in Bristol, winning their Players’ Player of the Year award last season, and he’s recaptured the form that earned him a glowing reputation at the start of career.

The promise that Bradbury showcased as he made his breakthrough just after his 19th birthday eventually led to his Scotland debut within two years and being named Edinburgh captain by Richard Cockerill at just 22. Bradbury, however, was infamously stripped of that honour in less than two months after inheriting the armband after an off-field incident on a night out led to a head injury. 

Bradbury has spoken openly about addressing his ‘demons’ and learning from his mistakes and the talented forward believes he will demonstrate his development - as a player and an individual - on his return to the capital. 

“Yeah, definitely,” Bradbury replied when asked if he’d changed during his spell away from Edinburgh. “I’d say I believe I’m a wee bit more mature. The way I played down south, and the way Bristol played, was a challenge to begin with. It was sort of sink or swim. I had to learn those soft skills, I had to learn how to play in the wide channels, be effective in there - not just carrying, but facilitating play as well.

“And I loved it. I loved playing that style down there. The Premiership is attritional, so you’ve still got that physicality, you’re still getting battered week in, week out. And I think I was shocked by that, because I was being told a lot by exiles - like Sam Skinner and those boys in camp - that the Prem potentially was something different. They weren’t lying: it was tough. But that soft play, and the way Bristol wanted to play, has just developed me tremendously.”

There’s no uncertainty around Bradbury’s ability and returning to the Scotland fold is undoubtedly a target as he’s not represented his country in two years. The Edinburgh forward has 19 caps to his name and while his focus is solely on making an impact at club level, Bradbury admits that grabbing Gregor Townsend’s attention was a factor behind his return to Scotland.

“Yeah, it was something that was thought about and discussed with my agent and the various folk that are involved,” Bradbury admitted. “But as I always say when these questions arise, that is not what I’m playing rugby for. I want to play well for Edinburgh, I want to play well for Bristol. If that means I get to play for Scotland, so be it and I will take that with open arms and fully grab that opportunity.

“But for me it is week on week on week. If November comes around and I’m selected, brilliant. I will look at that the same way I look at playing for Edinburgh, with high intensity, a complete honour. But it’s very tunnel vision for me – one day at a time, one week at a time, one opposition at a time and see where that takes me.”

Training has ramped up ahead of Edinurgh’s URC opener against Leinster on Friday night with head coach Sean Everitt keen to avenge the collapse of last season that saw them miss out on the play-offs. Aided by glorious sunshine at the Hive Stadium, Bradbury was visibly in good spirits as he expressed his delight at being back home.

“It’s good - on days like this it’s quality.” Bradbury laughed when asked about being back at Edinbu. “Nah, it’s been good. Not a lot has changed, but that’s why I came back. Some of the boys I’ve been pals with here for years are part of the furniture now. It’s good to come back in a squad like that - that same strong core group that really wants the best for the club. It’s exciting to be part of it. I’m back in my same spot in the changing room, I didn’t have to kick anyone out of that spot, which is good. The atmosphere at the weekend there was phenomenal - five and a half thousand, I think it was? Great. So I’m really excited to be back.”

Bradbury is in strong contention to start against Leinster after scoring against Gloucester in Edinburgh’s final pre-season game and he will be aiming to replicate his excellent scoring form at Bristol last season that yielded a career-high ten tries.

He added: “I had a chat with Pat (Lam) and the guys down there who operate the attack and the forwards stuff. That is what I’m in the team for – that ball-carrying ability. If I get my hands on the ball five metres out, I only have to make five metres, which with the way Bristol play - wide to wide - if I’m carrying against a back or a 10 or a nine or a smaller forward, you are going to get those easy wins, easy shoulders and get quite a lot of tries. It’s a bit of ‘right place, right time’, a bit of luck involved, but I’ve tried my best.  It was good to be back here and scoring a try on Friday.”