Owlsey swoops at Edinburgh shot

EDINBURGH have added some serious gas to their squad with the recruitment of Bristol Bears Academy wing/full-back Freddie Owlsey for next season, but the 24-year-old – who has not played at pro level before – will need to prove that he has the rugby ability to match his undoubted pace.

Owlsey – who is Scottish qualified through a grandmother from Govan – grew up in Bristol as a promising sportsman, reaching representative level in hockey, football and decathlon.

After leaving school, he initially focused on athletics – representing Great Britain U20 in the 200m, 400m, 4x100m and 4x400m, being crowned national 400m U20 Champion and earning a place in the British indoor and outdoor senior 200m final – before returning to rugby when offered an academy contract with his home-town club last summer.

Having failed to break into the high-flying Bristol Bears team this season, he jumped at the opportunity to head north to join Edinburgh this summer.

“My mum’s been the most involved in my sport and, being a massive Scotland fan, she couldn’t be prouder that I’m coming to Edinburgh,” he said. “It’s probably the proudest out of any of my sporting achievements, and even arguably my sister Lily, who’s won an Olympic gold medal in hockey!”

“It’s something that’s always been there throughout my life, and you can’t find a much better city than Edinburgh to pursue a dream. The main thing I want to do it play. I’m really keen to get up there and get stuck into some rugby.”

Edinburgh head coach Richard Cockerill said: “Freddie is an exciting prospect for us to develop.

“He already has a lot of rugby in him, but that kind of speed you cannot teach – it’s a genetic gift which he’s worked exceptionally hard to hone at an elite level. He’ll hopefully develop into a real weapon for us on the quick synthetic surface in the new stadium next season.”