Highly-rated Scotland international hooker Ewan Ashman will join Edinburgh Rugby this summer on a four-year deal from Sale Sharks.
Reports emerged last wee that the Scottish Rugby Union made a six-figure offer to get the Premiership side to release the prop from his contract.
The 22-year-old – who had a short spell on loan at Edinburgh in 2019 – has so far earned seven caps for Scotland since making his international debut in 2021, scoring at the corner in acrobatic fashion to help secure a famous 15-13 win over Australia at BT Murrayfield Stadium.
A rising star for Premiership high-flyers Sharks, Ashman also excelled at age-grade level for Scotland – scoring 10 tries in 15 matches at U20 level – while the hooker has already made over 50 appearances at senior level for the Greater Manchester club.
Ashman said: “I’m buzzing to be joining Edinburgh, it’s a team I’ve always supported. As a city, Edinburgh has always felt like home. It’s where my family is from and I can’t wait to move back there.
“I loved my short stint at the club when I was younger. It’s a great group of boys and some of my best mates I played with at age grade are now at the core of the squad, which definitely played a factor in my decision to move.
“The ethos and energy around the club was also a big factor as I improved a lot during my time in Edinburgh.”
Sir Ian McGeechan picks all-time XV – includes three England legends
Sir Ian McGeechan has picked his all-time greatest XV, but there is no room in his selection for Paul O’Connell, David Campese or Jonny Wilkinson.
Writing for The Telegraph, the 74-year-old has picked six New Zealanders in his selection along with three Englishmen, two Welshman and one player each from France, Scotland and Ireland.
BACK-THREE
Fullback: JPR Williams (Wales) – “Not a staggeringly original choice, I’ll admit. But to my mind the only one. If I’m going to be picking a dream XV over the next few days then I want JPR at the back. No question.”
Left-wing: Jonah Lomu (New Zealand) – “Illness and injury ultimately slowed him down. But his performances at the 1995 World Cup, just as the game was turning professional, will never be forgotten. The game needed a superstar, and it got one in Lomu. He was brilliant for rugby.”
Right-wing: John Kirwan (New Zealand) – “He had an all round game; he could carry the ball through heavy traffic, he could offload, he was like an extra back-rower at times. Plus, he had natural effortless pace. He ended up scoring 35 tries for the All Blacks and was instrumental as they went through their unbeaten spell of games between 1987 and 1990.”
CENTRES
Outside-centre: Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland) – “His ability to get back on his feet after tackling to compete for the ball was extraordinary, and ensured he always had an impact on the game, whatever type of game it was. He was such a natural talent.”
Inside-centre: Philippe Sella (France) – “Sella and O’Driscoll were powerful men. They could stop a forward in his tracks. I think as a pair they would dominate any midfield and I like the thought of them together.”