EDINBURGH have confirmed the signings of prop Sam Grahamslaw and back-row forwards Connor Boyle and Rory Darge, all three of whom are Scotland Under-20 internationals.
Head coach Richard Cockerill first said in early May that the trio would be joining his squad, but official confirmation was delayed as a consequence of the lockdown.
“We’re really excited to work with all three players and it’s just reward for their hard work and effort that they now pen pro deals with the club,” Cockerill said.
“We know Rory and Connor extremely well, having seen them progress through the age-grade system and now at Super6 level. They are two back-rows with differing styles, but they both have a huge amount of potential to go far in this game.
“Sam is a player that Scottish Rugby identified while he was at Leicester Tigers and he’s a prop with great physicality and ability in the loose. All three players have impressed at Super6 level and we’re looking forward to seeing them make the step-up this coming season.”
Grahamslaw, who began his career in the back row before moving to prop, came up through the ranks at Leicester, Cockerill’s old club. He played in Super6 for Watsonians along with Boyle, who captained the national under-20s last year. Darge, who succeeded Boyle as U20s skipper this season, played for the Southern Knights in Super6.
Meanwhile, former Edinburgh stand-off Simon Hickey, who left the capital when his contract expired last month, has signed a two-year deal with the Hurricanes in his native New Zealand.
Cockerill had earmarked former Worcester 10 Jono Lance as a replacement, but the deal fell through when the Australian failed to be granted a visa. Nathan Chamberlain, another former Scotland U20 cap, is now set to deputise for first-choice stand-off Jaco van der Walt.
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