Twenty senior players left Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors at the end of the season and most - but not all - have found new homes for the 2025-26 campaign.
Some have landed lucrative contracts in France and England while others are still hoping to secure a deal in the coming weeks.
Summer can be a time of uncertainty for out-of-contract rugby pros, with the search to find a club intensifying as the new season looms. Here’s the latest state of play on those who left Scotland’s two professional teams.
17. Javan Sebastian
The tighthead prop joined Edinburgh in 2023 but is returning to Wales after two seasons. Sebastian, 30, has signed for Cardiff and will come up against his old club in round five of this season’s URC. The Scotland international arrived at Edinburgh from the Scarlets and made 30 appearances. | SNS Group
18. Nathan Sweeney
The promising back-three player has taken the decision to step away from pro rugby “for now” on medical grounds after being hampered by serious knee issues. Sweeney played three times for Edinburgh, including an appearance against Gloucester in the Challenge Cup last season. He also played for Emerging Scotland against Italy Under-23s in December. | SNS Group / SRU
19. Logan Trotter
The winger is leaving Glasgow Warriors after two seasons on the fringes at Scotstoun. Spent the second half of last season on loan at Coventry in the English Championship and did well, scoring four tries in nine appearances. Totter, 27, has played previously for Stirling County and London Irish. | SNS Group
20. Henco Venter
Venter’s exit from Glasgow Warriors became something of a cause celebre. It was announced in April that the popular back-row forward would be moving to Brive for the new season, with Glasgow coach Franco Smith saying his departure was linked to Scottish Rugby moving in the direction of having fewer foreign players. “If it was up to me, definitely he would stay,” said Smith. With uncertainty around his future, Venter took up the option of a lucrative move to the French second tier and there is no doubt he will be missed by Glasgow. Brought all his experience to bear in two seasons at Scotstoun and played a highly significant role in the title-winning campaign. | SNS Group