Having watched from the sidelines as Glasgow made all the running in the rugby transfer market recently, Edinburgh have finally made a significant move of their own by securing the services of the South African prop WP Nel, who will join the capital side from Super 15 side Free State Cheetahs next season.
Nel, a specialist tighthead, is believed to be Scottish qualified by way of a grandparent. However, the length of the contract he has signed, which runs until 2015 , could also allow him to establish eligibility by way of the three-year residency rule.
Nel has been around the fringes of the Springboks squad for a number of years, but South Africa's traditional strength as a scrummaging nation has counted against him rising to full Test status. However, he has played 32 times at Super 15 level since making his debut for the Cheetahs against the Waratahs three seasons ago.
It is understood that Nel will join Edinburgh at the end of this year's Super 15 season, which runs until July.
Nel said: "My experience at the Cheetahs has been fantastic but when I got the chance to go to Edinburgh, it was an opportunity to gain experience and develop my game further.
"Edinburgh play a fantastic brand of rugby and I'm really looking forward to lining up alongside some of their world-class players and living in a great city like Edinburgh.
"To be involved in that set-up and experience northern hemisphere rugby and conditions can only improve my game in two great competitions – the Rabodirect PRO12 and the Heineken Cup – and I'm certainly looking forward to the challenge."
Nel, who is 5ft 11in and weighs in at just under 19st, is renowned as a powerful scrummager, but he also is an impressive ball-carrier in the loose. He played against Edinburgh's Ross Ford during the 2009 British and Irish Lions' tour to South Africa, and also figured as the only uncapped player in the Barbarians side which beat the All Black 25-18 at Twickenham later that year.
Michael Bradley, the Edinburgh head coach, said: "We're delighted to have signed WP Nel for the next three seasons, a player of the calibre, experience and expertise that we seek to attract to the club and to serve our ambitions to put Edinburgh among the top clubs in Europe.
"He has a lot of experience for a 25-year-old prop and will bring a huge amount to our performance on the pitch and to the development of the talented young props we have at the club."
Newport Gwent Dragons have named a 26-man squad for the match against Edinburgh at Rodney Parade on Saturday. Winger Will Harries and back-row Lewis Evans return after injury.
Squad. Newport-Gwent Dragons
M Thomas, J Smith, W Harries, A Brew, A Hughes, A Tuilagi, A Smith, L Robling, J Tovey, J Bedford, W Evans, J Evans, G Thomas, D Waters, L Evans, H Ellis, T Brown, J Groves, A Jones, R Sidoli, P Price, N Williams, N Buck, D Way, S Jones, S Parry
alasdair reid
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