Edinburgh raid Super Rugby for their latest signing

Edinburgh have continued their recruitment drive ahead of next season with the signing of Scottish second row Murray Douglas from Super Rugby side Brumbies on a short-term deal to provide cover during the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

The 29-year-old former Heriots, Kirkcaldy and Aberdeen Grammar player returns home to Edinburgh, for whom he has already made one appearance - against Cardiff Blues in 2012.

Douglas, who has previously turned out for Super Rugby sides Melbourne Rebels and Wellington Hurricanes, joined Brumbies on a two-year deal at the start of the current campaign.

However, the 6ft 6in second row will now join Edinburgh on a deal that will see him remain in the capital for a five-month period following the conclusion of the current Super Rugby season, before returning to the Canberra club for the start of the 2019/20 campaign.

Douglas, said: “I’m really excited to be presented with the opportunity to join Edinburgh. It’s a great opportunity for me to head back to Scotland in between Super Rugby seasons and represent the club that I grew up supporting.

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“Edinburgh have been going from strength to strength in recent years, so it’s a very exciting time to be joining the club. I am very much looking forward to joining the group and contributing to the club’s continued success next season.’’

Coach Richard Cockerill added: “Murray has picked up plenty of experience in Super Rugby, playing alongside some of the most exciting players in the world.

“He’s a strong and skilful ball carrier that provides us with invaluable cover across a number of positions. We’re looking forward to watching how he develops in an already talented Edinburgh back-five.”

Having come through the ranks at Kirkcaldy, Douglas joined Aberdeen Grammar in 2008 while studying law at Aberdeen University. He returned to Edinburgh in 2012 to take up a law traineeship and joined Premiership side Heriots.

The second row captained the Scotland Club XV against Ireland and France in 2014 and helped Heriots lift the Scottish Cup in 2015 before making the move to Melbourne.

After joining the Rebels development side, Melbourne Rising, Douglas made his mark in the Dewar Shield before making a handful of appearances for the AAMI Park outfit during the 2017 Super Rugby season.

Murray Douglas makes a break during Mitre 10 Cup match between Hawke's Bay and Northland at McLean Park in September 2018 (Photo by Kerry Marshall/Getty Images)

A strong Mitre 10 Cup campaign later that year saw him pick up a contract with the Wellington-based Hurricanes, for whom he made his debut against the Bulls in Pretoria. He went onto make seven appearances in 2018.

Douglas joined Brumbies at the start of the current campaign and made his debut from the bench in this month’s 29-26 defeat to Rebels.