HAMISH Watson has agreed a new two-year deal with Edinburgh that commits him to the club until May 2019. The 25-year-old back-row forward has become an increasingly influential figure in the Edinburgh team this season, and played every minute of Scotland’s three Autumn Tests in November.
“I’m absolutely delighted to be staying at Edinburgh,” Watson said yesterday. “It’s a great club with a great squad, coaching team and backroom staff, and I love the city.
“I feel that this club is right for me to continue developing my game, and a place for me to stay and build on my Scotland caps. The club is going in the right direction and there’s a lot that can be achieved with this squad, and that’s something I want to be a part of in the coming seasons.”
The openside flanker, who made his Scotland debut in 2015 and now has five caps, was initially seen as back-up to John Hardie at both club and international level. Hardie, who has been out of action since injuring an ankle against Australia two months ago, is out of contract later this year.
“Hamish is an outstanding individual who gives everything for the team every time he’s on the park,” Edinburgh coach Duncan Hodge said. “He has worked extremely hard to develop his game over the last couple of seasons.”
Meanwhile, former England captain Chris Robshaw is to miss the Six Nations Championship because of a shoulder problem. The 30-year-old flanker will need surgery and is expected to be out of action for three months.
World Rugby has decided not to punish Northampton, despite ruling that the club’s medical staff wrongly allowed Wales winger George North to return to action after a suspected head injury in a game against Leicester last month.
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