Edinburgh going for quantity as Glasgow keep on adding quality

EDINBURGH and Glasgow Warriors are both taking very different approaches to bringing in new players for next season. The signing budget for each of the two Scotland professional clubs hovers around the £5million mark with Glasgow going for quality rather than quantity, which is Edinburgh’s approach. Even if Richard Cockerill’s side manage to secure the signature of Bath centre Robbie Fruean, they still would not have made as many eye-catching signings as their rivals along the M8. Edinburgh’s latest signings have included 21-year-old unknown Montpellier academy player Duhan van der Merwe and 28-year-old London Scottish winger Jason Harries, who has been handed a one-year deal. SRU academy players Callum Hunter-Hill, Hugh Fraser and Tom Galbraith have huge potential but Edinburgh need more than that. They need to sign some experienced players with a track record, especially with their main signing Mark Bennett set to miss the whole of next season. Glasgow have signed, among others, Super Rugby winning New Zealand winger Lelia Masaga from the Chiefs on a two-year contract. They also have Scotland international Huw Jones and his club team-mate Oli Kebble coming from The Stormers in South Africa. Adam Hastings, son of Gavin, has joined, too. Edinburgh look poor relations in terms of signings so far with an injection of a few experienced star names needed. If they don’t get them, they will struggle in the Guinness Pro12 regardless how good a coach Cockerill turns out to be.