NO SCOTS HEIR TO WEIR, SAYS COCKERILL
RICHARD COCKERILL last night claimed there are no Scottish-qualified fly-halves good enough to replace Duncan Weir at Edinburgh. After it was announced yesterday that Weir will join Worcester Warriors on a one-year deal this summer, the capital head coach said he will instead put his faith in current No 10 Jaco van der Walt from South Africa and new signing Simon Hickey from New Zealand. ‘If I had a young Scottish ten that would take this team forward, I would happily have one but we haven’t,’ said the Englishman. ‘With respect, take Finn Russell away and there is not a lot of depth, is there? ‘My job is to get Edinburgh as good as they can be and, for me, ten is a key position. We have the quality at ten for next season at a price we think we can afford. ‘We will bring in Simon Hickey who is first choice at Bordeaux. ‘He is a good footballer who threatens the line very well. His all-round game is very good and he is just 24, which is still very young. ‘Jaco has done very well since he came to the club earlier in the season from Super Rugby. We have two tens who are not Scottish, so I like to think, barring injury, they will be with us all of the time.’ Weir will be reunited at Worcester with former Edinburgh head coach Alan Solomons, who signed him for the capital club two years ago. Solomons, now director of rugby at the Premiership outfit, wanted him on a short-term loan in February but the deal fell through when he was recalled by Edinburgh because of an injury crisis. Weir has been an important player for Edinburgh recently, scoring a last-minute drop goal winner against Ulster and going over for a late try to beat Connacht in Galway. His contribution has helped put Edinburgh in a strong position to reach the Pro14 play-offs. The Scotland international, who also scored a superb solo try in the home defeat to Ulster last weekend, will be part of the Edinburgh squad who take on Scarlets at Murrayfield on Saturday. ‘Duncan is a top-class player who possesses experience at the highest level,’ said Solomons. ‘He will provide us with another outstanding option at fly-half.’