Cockerill seals move for Nayalo on two-year deal

Fijian flanker Senitiki Nayalo has joined Edinburgh on a two-year contract and will join the squad when they report for pre-season training this week.

The 26-year-old has left London Irish to join Edinburgh head coach Richard Cockerill’s rebuilding project, adding muscle to the capital club’s back row.

The 6ft 2in, 18 -stone forward said: “I’m so happy to sign for Edinburgh. It’s a new chapter of my rugby career and I can’t wait for a new start. Edinburgh is a beautiful city and I’m really looking forward to the season ahead.”

Cockerill added: “We’re delighted that Senitiki has chosen to join Edinburgh and be part of what we’re building here. He’s an abrasive and powerful ball carrier, who will undoubtedly add strength and depth to our back-row.”

Nayalo, 26, cut his teeth with Noitoga Rugby Club in Fiji before making the move to the UK to join the British Army in 2013. While serving with the 7th Parachute Royal Horse Artillery, based in Colchester, he featured for Harlequins in

0 Senitiki Nayalo: New chapter. the Singha Premiership Rugby 7s series in 2014 and 2015 as well as the World Club 7s Series in 2014.

Nayalo joined London Irish in 2016 and made an immediate impact; scoring three tries in 15 appearances to help the exiles make a return to the Aviva Premiership.

He represented the Army against the Navy during last year’s annual Inter-services derby at Twickenham.

Nyalo’s arrival will soften the blow of losing Scotland captain John Barclay, another key summer signings, for the first half of next season, the flanker ruled out for at least six months after having Achilles surgery.