Charlie Savala signs new Edinburgh deal and explains his admiration for Finn Russell

Edinburgh Rugby have high hopes for their 21-year-old Australian stand-off Charlie Savala.

Signed from Syndey Roosters’ academy at the end of 2020, Savala switched codes from league to union and while his game-time for the capital club has been limited, there is no doubting the potential they see in the Scotland-qualified fly-half.

That’s why Edinburgh have tied him on a new deal, with head coach Mike Blair determined to get the best out of a player who has “X factor”.

“Charlie has got attributes that you can’t coach – he has a huge amount of vision and X factor,” said Blair. “There are parts within his game that he’ll want to tidy up and that we’ll look at, around his game management. He’s probably more of a rugby league type intellect, I’d say, at the moment, but he’s learning fast. And he’s hugely ambitious as well.

“I want to see him pushing in around that No 1, No 2 berth, and we believe that re-signing him will give him that opportunity to improve. It’s been difficult with him not getting huge amounts of game time, but he’s getting bits, and he’s improving in training as well, which is crucial – there’s no plateau through that. I believe he’s a hugely exciting player for Edinburgh going forward.”

Savala knows that his game is based around flair. “When I was growing up one of my coaches back home said to me, ‘the less I coach you, the better it is for you’,” he said. “And that’s one thing that’s stuck with me. For my game, I don’t like to have a cramped style.

“As a fly-half I really enjoy playing with freedom and Mike has allowed me to do that. There are obviously times when you need to be reined in a bit and things need to be done structurally but it is great to have that freedom.”

Savala takes inspiration from