Scotland internationalist Grant Gilchrist has pledged his future to Edinburgh’s rebuilding under new coach Richard Cockerill by signing a two-year extension to his contact at the club.
Co-captain of the club this season, the 16-times capped lock was being courted by the likes of Top 14 giants Toulon until a desperate run of injuries interrupted his career just as he was becoming a Scotland regular.
Vern Cotter had the Alloa-born player earmarked as his first Scotland captain until the first of two serious injuries that cost him much of the 2014/15 and 2015/16 seasons.
Gilchrist has returned to both the Edinburgh side and for Scotland this season, winning his 16th cap in the final RBS Six Nations match against Italy at BT Murrayfield. He made his international debut for Scotland in 2013, just three years after graduating from an academy contract with Edinburgh.
“I’m absolutely delighted to re-sign with Edinburgh,” he said. “Admittedly it’s been a tough year and we’re disappointed with recent results but I’m looking forward to helping the club move forward. I’m excited to see what this group can produce over the next few seasons.
“I’m desperate for this club to be successful and I believe we will achieve what we want to in the next few years.
“If you look across the board we’ve got competition for places and every week people are going to be battling for their spot.
“The contest for a place in the second-row has been really good for me as I feel it’s making me a better player and I hope that I’m making the other locks better too.”
Acting Head Coach Duncan Hodge, said: “It’s great to have Grant, another experienced internationalist, commit to the club for the coming seasons.
“He’s a quality operator around the park and at set-piece, and is a natural leader in a young squad. His presence is one valued by the staff and players.
“He’s had an unfortunate run with injuries over the last few seasons but it’s great to see him back and battling for his spot in a competitive second-row.”