Edinburgh swoop for Harlequins players
EDINBURGH sent out another strong message yesterday about their determination to continue on an upward trajectory as a rugby club once this Covid- disrupted, dog’s- dinner of a campaign is over, by announcing the capture from Harlequins of Scotland international centre James Lang and Scottish born- and- raised second- row Glen Young for next season.
“It’s great to announce a couple of new faces to show how our plans for the future continue to take shape,” said head coach Richard Cockerill. “James and Glen are quality, experienced individuals – one of them an international, the other of international quality.”
Kent- born Lang, who qualifies for Scotland through his maternal grandmother, has played five times for the national team since making his debut against Canada in the summer of 2018.
The 25- year- old has made 73 appearances for Harlequins to date – scoring 11 tries and 204 points – since joining the club in 2016. Seen mainly as a centre by Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend, he has told Edinburgh that is the position he wants to concentrate on, but he will also provide depth if required at stand- off and full- back.
“James is a player we’ve been interested in for a long time now, so it’s fantastic to secure his signature for the club,” said Cockerill. “He’s a talented, international back who can play in a number of specialist positions and will be a real asset to us.”
Young – who is 6ft 7ins, weighs 118kg, and turned 26 in November – came through the ranks in his hometown of Jedburgh, before being offered an academy contract with Newcastle Falcons in 2012. The former Scotland Under- 20s cap had three seasons between 2016 and 2019 as a senior player at Kingston Park, before moving to Harlequins last year, where he has been a regular starter in the Twickenham side’s middle row.
His father, Dougie, boxed for Britain in the heavyweight division at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, and won silver for Scotland at the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh. His cousins Lewis, Gregor, Callum Young have all represented Scotland 7s out of Jed- Forest.
“We’re equally pleased to sign Glen – a Borders man who has spent his senior professional playing career in the English Premiership – and will now get a taste of a new competition.”