FIVE Edinburgh Rugby players are facing an immediate future in the club premiership or taking part in back-up games after failing to find a place among the 36 registered today for Celtic League duty.
The five who initially miss out include injury victims including star flanker Ross Rennie who is battling back from a knee problem.
Also omitted are Rennie's fellow internationalist Roland Reid along with experienced centre Matt Dey and new sign
ings Fraser McKenzie and Marc Teague.
Dey spent much of last season on the injured list but signed a contract extension earlier this year.
Rules for the Celtic League, which gets underway on Friday with Edinburgh hosting Munster at Murrayfield, allow up to 36 players to be registered. Teams may amend their nominated squads, with approval from Celtic Rugby, up until January 31.
Meanwhile, it was announced today that fans who buy a ticket for any of Scotland's three Autumn Tests against New Zealand, South Africa and Canada qualify for a free Celtic League match ticket including the Boxing Day derby between Edinburgh and Glasgow at Firhill.
Edinburgh player's registered: David Blair, Mike Blair, Ben Cairns, David Callam, Sean Crombie, Geoff Cross, Simon Cross, Nick de Luca, Andrew Easson, Ross Ford, Ben Gissing, Phil Godman, Ryan Grant, Craig Hamilton, Jim Hamilton, Allister Hogg, John Houston, Allan Jacobsen, Andrew Kelly, Gavin Kerr, Greig Laidlaw, Steven Lawrie, Alan MacDonald, Bruce McNeil, Calum MacRae, Ben Meyer, Matt Mustchin, Scott Newlands, Chris Paterson, Mark Robertson, Hugo Southwell, James Thompson, Kyle Traynor, Andrew Turnbull, Steven Turnbull, Simon Webster.
The full article contains 266 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.