Gilchrist delighted to sign two-year deal

Scotland internationalist Grant Gilchrist has pledged his future to Edinburgh’s rebuilding under new coach Richard Cockerill by signing a two-year extension to his contract.

Co-captain this season, the 16-times capped lock was being courted by the likes of Top 14 giants Toulon until a desperate run of injuries interrupted his career just as he was becoming a Scotland regular.

Vern Cotter had the Alloa-born player earmarked as his first Scotland captain until the first of two serious injuries that cost him much of the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons.

Gilchrist has returned to both the Edinburgh side and for Scotland this season, winning his 16th cap in the final Six Nations match against Italy. He made his international debut in 2013, just three years after graduating from an academy contract with Edinburgh.

“I’m absolutely delighted to re-sign with Edinburgh,” he said. “Admittedly it’s been a tough year and we’re disappointed with recent results but I’m looking forward to helping the club move forward.

“I’m excited to see what this group can produce over the next few seasons. I’m desperate for this club to be successful and I believe we will achieve what we want to in the next few years.

“If you look across the board we’ve got competition for places and every week people are going to be battling for their spot.

“The contest for a place in the second-row has been really good for me as I feel it’s making me a better player and I hope that I’m making the other locks better too.”

Edinburgh visit Treviso tomorrow in a PRO12 game.

Grant Gilchrist: excited to be part of rebuilding project.