Jamie Ritchie on avoiding rugby geekery and embracing Edinburgh’s new home

Jamie Ritchie is relishing Edinburgh's return to the DAM Health Stadium for Saturday's match against the Stormers. Picture: Ross Parker/SNSJamie Ritchie is relishing Edinburgh's return to the DAM Health Stadium for Saturday's match against the Stormers. Picture: Ross Parker/SNS
Jamie Ritchie is relishing Edinburgh's return to the DAM Health Stadium for Saturday's match against the Stormers. Picture: Ross Parker/SNS
Professional sport can be all consuming but rugby isn’t 24/7 for Jamie Ritchie. He doesn’t watch many games on telly and he’s not too sure about the structure of the new United Rugby Championship.

The intricacies of the Scottish-Italian Shield may have passed him by but Ritchie is a fierce competitor and is desperate for Edinburgh to return to winning ways this weekend.

Last Saturday’s loss to Benetton hurt, and the flanker knows it was a game the capital side should have won. Leonardo Marin’s drop goal in the 85th minute turned victory into defeat and Edinburgh will seek to make amends when they host the Stormers.

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“There were parts of that game we could have managed better, stuff like executing our skills in the big moments which could have ended up with us winning the game,” said Ritchie.

Jamie Ritchie acknowledges the supporters after Edinburgh's win over the Scarlets at the DAM Health Stadium. Picture: Ross Parker/SNSJamie Ritchie acknowledges the supporters after Edinburgh's win over the Scarlets at the DAM Health Stadium. Picture: Ross Parker/SNS
Jamie Ritchie acknowledges the supporters after Edinburgh's win over the Scarlets at the DAM Health Stadium. Picture: Ross Parker/SNS

The composition of the URC means there are leagues within the league and Edinburgh are grouped with Glasgow, Benetton and Zebre in the Scots-Italian pool. Whoever comes out top of that will play in next season’s Champions Cup but Ritchie admits he had yet to fully fathom the complexities of the new championship.