Youngsters commit to Scottish pro-districts

EDINBURGH have signed one of Georgia’s World Cup stars and a former Wales prop as they follow Glasgow in strengthening their pack for next season.

Michael Bradley had a spell working with Richie Dixon at Georgia before he took over as the Edinburgh coach last year, and The Scotsman can reveal that he has returned to the up-and-coming nation to snap up No 8 Dimitri Basilaia, who played in three of Georgia’s four World Cup matches, including the tight affair with Scotland, and scored a try in another fine showing against England.

The 26-year-old currently plays for Valence d’Agen, in Fédérale 1, the league just below the two professional divisions in France, and a skilful 6ft 4in, 17-stone ball-carrier would become the first Georgian to play in the RaboDirect Pro12.

Bradley is also understood to have agreed terms with John Yapp, the 6ft 2in Cardiff prop who has won 21 caps for Wales. The 28-year-old weighs in at over 19 stone and while he forged a great early career as a loosehead prop – he made his debut for Cardiff at just 18 and earned his first cap in Wales’ Grand Slam season of 2005 at just 21 – he has also switched to the tighthead in recent years and so will offer Edinburgh versatility and new strength in depth across the front row.

Bradley has already announced the signing of South African tighthead WP Nel, who will join in the summer from Free State Cheetahs, as will Northampton back Greig Tonks, with Argentinian prop Ulises Gamboa joining compatriot Esteban Lozada in leaving this summer, the big lock believed to be heading back to France after joining from Toulon in 2010.

Glasgow coach Sean Lineen was quick off the mark when given extra funding and support from SRU chief executive Mark Dodson and Graham Lowe, the director of performance rugby. However, Bradley insisted at the turn of the year that he would also be bringing new players to the club, to help strengthen the squad particularly when the internationalists were with Scotland, and to help to develop young players.

Edinburgh yesterday took the number of players re-signed in recent months to 17 with scrum-halves Chris Leck and Alex Black agreeing new two-year deals through to 2014. The pair have been rewarded for their hard work largely behind the scenes since arriving among Bradley’s first signings last summer.

Leck came north with lock Sean Cox from Sale while Black was signed from Leeds Carnegie, all on one-year deals, but despite struggling for game-time ahead of internationalists Greig Laidlaw and Mike Blair, Leck and Black have still managed to impress the head coach, and have re-signed along with Cox.

“Both players have worked very hard this year,” Bradley said. “They have been extremely professional and patient for their chances to play and have performed well when those opportunities have come their way.

“Their work ethic and level of professionalism has been exceptional and they deserve this chance to further their careers at the club. We’re delighted that they’re staying on.”

Leck, a former England U18 cap and the son of Hawick coach Phil, has made 11 appearances for the club this season. He said: “Coming to Edinburgh was a very exciting prospect for me with a fresh challenge to work hard, get as many games as I could and prove my worth.

SGD prop wrote:I can understand wanting to re-enforce the front row but instead of going for Japp why not try Shiels a younger SCOTTISH prospect? What with Japp, Jacobson, Cross and the new South African I think any up and coming prop is going to find it hard to get much game time at Edinburgh next year, though it may wake a few up and realize that they need to raise their performances if they want to stay.

As for the Georgian No 8 all I can ask is why?? With Denton Talei and McInally why do they need a new No 8? Would it not be better to spend the money on a 2nd row with Lozada leaving or some more depth on the wings seeing as it looks likely that Jones and Visser will be away for large parts of next season and Webster leaving?

They just seem like strange appointments to me and with only 2 Scottish clubs I would like to see as many Scots involved as possible.