Amateur career Edwards started his rugby playing while at
George Heriot's School. Joining the
RAF as part of his National Service he moved to
Merseyside. While there he played for
Birkenhead Park FC. Upon his return to
Edinburgh he joined his school's "Former Pupils" team of
Heriot's. Edwards played his career here, later becoming captain and then president in the years to follow.
Iain Milne described Edwards as an "uncompromising back row"
Rugby sevens During sevens, he played with
Heriot's. Winning: •
Langholm Sevens (1954) •
Melrose Sevens (1954,1957,1958) •
Hawick Sevens (1954) •
Jed-Forest Sevens (1955,1958) •
Peebles Sevens (1953,1958) •
Walkerburn Sevens (1953,1954) • Murrayfield Sevens (1954,1955,1956,1958)
Provincial career Whilst with
Heriot's he played for
Edinburgh District. He played in the
1955–56 Scottish Inter-District Championship season that was decided in the final game versus
Glasgow District It would be four years until Edwards would be selected to play for
Edinburgh District again in the
1959-60 season. This time his performances on the pitch would lead to a selection in the
Scotland team. On 16 November 1960 a combined
Glasgow-Edinburgh District side faced the touring
South Africa squad. Edwards captained the side losing 16-11, in the process he got badly injured but came back on. In the days that followed the injuries forced him to retire at the age of 30.
International career After Edwards's performances in the
1959–60 Scottish Inter-District Championship he was selected to "lead the pack" against
Ireland only a matter of 3 weeks before his 30th birthday. The match ended in a 6–5 victory to
Scotland with Edwards scoring an unconverted try and 5 minutes later
Ken Scotland landing a "neat drop goal". This was
Scotland's first victory in Ireland for 27 years. On Edwards 30th Birthday he played
England in what would be a 21–12 defeat. In the April of 1960
Scotland went on the first visit to the Southern Hemisphere by a single home nation and the first short tour by any Test team by going to South Africa. Edwards third and final cap came in this test game which they lost 18–10. Four days later Edwards scored a try versus
Griqualand West now known as the
Griquas in Kimberley. == References ==