Everitt, during the lineup announcement for Edinburgh's opening match in the United Rugby Championship against Ulster at the Affidea Stadium in Belfast, disclosed that Graham's injury occurred last Friday. It was initially identified as a bicep contusion but was later confirmed as a rupture following an MRI scan.
"We haven't had much luck as far as [injuries are] concerned," Everitt said. "The injuries have been pretty freakish. Darcy Graham got a contusion on his bicep in a collision on the weekend. He was training on Monday [only] to get the MRI report that he's ruptured his bicep. That's not good news for us and not good news for him, especially with the autumn series coming up. So he'll be out for 12 weeks minimum."
This injury sidelines Graham for the Nations Championship Tests, where Scotland faces formidable opponents like New Zealand, Australia, and Japan at Murrayfield, along with a crucial play-off clash at Twickenham.
The impact of Graham's absence is compounded by the injuries of several other key players from Edinburgh, who will also miss the upcoming URC game against Ulster. Notable absences include internationals Duhan van der Merwe, Luke Crosbie, Grant Gilchrist, Ben Vellacott, Harry Paterson, Ben Muncaster, Ewan Ashman, and Pierre Schoeman.
Despite these setbacks, Everitt expressed optimism about the depth of his squad and is hopeful for the quick return of some players. "It’s not an injury that you can rush a player back from," he explained, underscoring the uncertain recovery timeline but also highlighting the potential for other players to step up in Graham's absence.
Fortunately, there's some good news on the horizon for Edinburgh, with Duhan van der Merwe expected to return from an ankle injury within three weeks and Harry Paterson ready to play as soon as next week. This depth provides some relief amidst the current injury crisis.
The long list of injuries presents a daunting challenge for Edinburgh as they kick off their season, but the team remains hopeful. Rapid recoveries could significantly alter the current outlook, transforming a lengthy injury list into a much shorter one in a matter of weeks.
As for Graham, known for his resilience, the rugby community anticipates a strong comeback, mirroring his previous recoveries from career setbacks. Meanwhile, his team and fans will be counting the days until his return, eager to see him once again lighting up the pitch with his electrifying runs and try-scoring prowess.
