While they boosted the strength of their squad considerably in recent weeks, we know Richard Cockerill isn’t one for sentiment when it comes to cutting players loose. Today Edinburgh announced that the following players will be leaving at the end of the season:
Allan Dell (London Irish)
22 Scotland caps; 59 Edinburgh appearances; 3 tries
London Irish are splashing the cash in anticipation that they’ll need a strong squad to stay up if they get promoted back to the Premiership. Signing Dell has meant, ironically, that Gordy Reid could be without a club in a few weeks and he’s rumoured to be keen for a return north. Edinburgh have already signed Jamie Bhatti as loosehead cover.
Nathan Fowles (Ealing Trailfinders)
71 Edinburgh appearances; 48 points
Now replaced by Charlie Shiel as the backup to Pyrgos.
Senitiki Nayalo (Coventry)
3 Edinburgh appearances
Hasn’t made an impact and isn’t likely to with the back row riches Edinburgh have. Cockers will be hoping for more from the new batch of Fijians he’s signed.
Ross Ford
1 British & Irish Lions appearance; 110 Scotland caps; 197 Edinburgh appearances; 12 tries
A club stalwart but hasn’t had a look in since Stuart McInally bloomed under Cockerill’s tutelage. Just a shame he didn’t get the same sort of coaching earlier in his career. Rumours of interest from French D2 which could be a nice contribution to the pension and few would wish him anything less.
Tom Brown
1 Scotland cap; 118 Edinburgh appearances; 20 tries
Has struggled badly with injuries in recent years but his contribution to Edinburgh when fit reached well over 100 appearances.
Sean Kennedy
66 Edinburgh appearances; 3 tries
Has had few appearances this season. Edinburgh will need at least one more in the squad which strengthens the case for a Finlay Christie type to come in.
Luke Hamilton
3 Scotland caps; 13 Edinburgh appearances
A former Leicester player, Cockerill brought him in to fill a short term skills gap on a one year deal. With Barclay fit and the youngsters set to push him hard next year, it makes sense for Luke to seek elsewhere.
UPDATE 10/4: Interesting update from which has more information on Luke Hamilton (declined a new deal) and that a “senior” is inbound. Reports from SA suggest that could be former Northampton and Lions man Nic Groom.
Rennie signs contract extension
From the other end of the M8, Glasgow’s big signing news is a contract extension for Dave Rennie that will see him at the club until 2020.
We didn’t quite get to where we wanted last season, but we’ve got a better side this season and I think the squad we’re building will be even better next season and I’m really keen to be a part of that.
Dave Rennie
It allows him to continue the development of younger talents that seems to be at the core of his plans, with Adam Hastings, George Horne, Stafford McDowall and Grant Stewart all pushing through towards the top level of the game.
UPDATE: 10/4: Next season there will be five Scottish qualified props at Scotstoun aged 25 and under, with the news that tighthead props Adam Nicol (21) and Charlie Capps (23) have signed deals for next season. Nicol extends his existing deal while Capps is a Scots qualified prop coming to Glasgow via Yorkshire Carnegie and SRU partner club Stade Nicois.