Edinburgh sign duo from Sale

Edinburgh have signed lock Sean Cox and scrum-half Chris Leck from Sale Sharks.

The pair become head coach Michael Bradley's first additions since the former Ireland captain took charge earlier this month.

Cox, 26, who can also operate on the flank, has represented England from schools to under-21 level and made 12 Premiership appearances last season.

Leck, 25, played five times in Europe with Sale and has turned out for England at under-16 and under-18 level.

"It's great news for the club that we've secured Sean and Chris and that they'll be here right from the first day of pre-season training in a couple of weeks' time," said Bradley.

"The players are used to the sort of demanding environment and competitions in which Edinburgh operate, and they'll both bring quality and appetite to their respective positions.

"We're still in the process of adding to what is already a strong squad full of international players.

"What we've got to offer is a team and club committed to continued improvement on and off the field, and it's then a case of identifying the right players and characters to contribute to that progress."


source - bbc website. - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/13573222.stm

Good addition to the squad?

Not too sure, it's clear that Edinburgh need to up their game, the season before last they were upstaged by glasgow who fell away badly last season. The Italians will improve next season, Connacht have already done so, and this may result in the Scottish teams becoming wooden spoon contenders.
Will these players become eligible for the Scottish team in time?

On a different note, players seem to be leaving Sale in droves, why?

May be they are poor and having a clear out they have done very little over the last couple of years hence they are up for Sale!

Not particularly inspiring signings for the Edinburgh fans to get excited about.

Plus they are not Scottish.

With only 2 sides I think Scotland should concentrate on academies and bringing through Scottish youngsters. So what if they leave later to play their rugby, just roll out the next candidate and give them game time in the ML.

ospreylian wrote:
On a different note, players seem to be leaving Sale in droves, why?

I'd say because they are making lots of signings. They have signed 15 or 16 now and some decent enough players - Andy Powell, Tony Buckley, Alastair Dickinson, Sam Tuitupou, Hendrie Fourie etc.

Not a good signing for Edinburgh. If anything we need locks not Scrum Halves! With Mike Blair and Greg Laidlaw a scrum half is the last thing we need.

I would have been much happier sign a couple of second rowers, in truth.

If Edinburgh can click we will have a pretty powerful squad next year without these guys.

15 Chris Paterson
14 Jim Thompson
13 Ben Cairns
12 NDL
11 Tim Visser
10 Phil Godman
9 Greig Laidlaw

1 Alan Jacobsen
2 Ross Ford
3 Geoff Cross,
4 Scott MacLeod
5 Esteban Lozada,
6 Stuart McInally
7 Ross Rennie
8 David Denton

not a bad 1st XV i would say, perhaps the new faces will be bench cover? Or perhaps I am selling them short through ignorance.

rugger: thought i heard scott macleod has gone to japan? think your right edinburgh could do with a few locks.

Looking at the Embra squad as a whole there are definitely some major gaps tho:
15 Chris Paterson/Jim Thompson
14 Lee Jones/Simon Webster
13 Ben Cairns
12 NDL/James King/John Houston
11 Tim Visser/Andrew Turnbull
10 Phil Godman/Greig Laidlaw/Matthew Scott
9 Greig Laidlaw/Mike Blair/Chris Leck

1 Alan Jacobsen/Kyle Traynor/David Young
2 Ross Ford/Andrew Kelly
3 Geoff Cross/Lewis Niven
4 Sean Cox/Steven Turnbull
5 Esteban Lozada
6 Alan MacDonald
7 Ross Rennie/Roddy Grant
8 David Denton/Stuart McInally/Netani Talei