EDINBURGH have handed former Scotland Under-20s loosehead prop Sam Grahamslaw a contract extension for at least another season.

The deal could be for longer, but that sort of information is no longer made available by Scotland’s professional clubs.

The former England Under-18s cap – who qualifies to wear the thistle through his paternal grandfather from Berwick – started out on his rugby career at hometown club Market Harborough and arrived in the Scottish capital on an academy contract in the summer of 2019, after coming through the ranks at Leicester Tigers and Loughborough University. He signed his first senior deal 12 months later.

Despite missing almost all of 2019 after picking up a back injury, he signed his first senior deal with Edinburgh in the summer of 2020 and made his debut for the club against Cardiff Blues last November. He made three appearances in total off the bench that month and although he hasn’t made it into the matchday squad since then he has continued to impress in training.

“This season I’ve learned what it takes to compete at this level,” said the 22-year-old. “I’m always looking to develop my game in any way I can and, being in the front-row, there’s no better place to be than Edinburgh."

At 6ft 4ins and just shy of 19 stones, Grahamslaw has the physical attributes to go the distance, and as a converted flanker he is a mobile, ball-player – but he will have his work cut-out to get game time next season when competing against Rory Sutherland, Pierre Schoeman and Boan Venter for the No 1 jersey.

“We’re really happy with how Sam is developing within the club’s experienced front-row group,” said Edinburgh head coach Richard Cockerill.

“It’s not an easy position to play, but he’s shown a real desire to improve his technique at scrum time which is paying dividends.

“Sam was really deserving of his debut earlier this season and we believe he has the tools from a physical standpoint to succeed at the pro level.”