Western Mail

Skinner leaving the Chiefs to head back north

-

HEINEKEN Champions Cup winner Sam Skinner will join Edinburgh for next season.

The two-time English Premiershi­p champion will leave Exeter to join several of his internatio­nal team-mates in the Scottish capital.

The 15-times capped Scotland lock said: “I’m massively excited to make the move north next season. The URC is an extremely competitiv­e league and I’m really looking forward to testing myself in a new environmen­t with a great group of lads.

“I want to challenge myself and grow as a player and Edinburgh is the perfect place to do that. I can’t wait to get stuck in, help the club to success while really experienci­ng Edinburgh and Scotland.

“I’m really looking forward to working with Mike (Blair).

“I obviously worked with him for a period of time at Scotland and I like how he communicat­es and connects with players, while also motivating them at the same time.

“He has Edinburgh playing an exciting brand of rugby and I believe it will suit my own playing style too.

“Having spoken to a lot of the boys at Scotland, there seems to be a really strong culture at the club, while it’s an exciting time with the new stadium, which I’ve heard has been fantastic so far with a brilliant atmosphere.”

Head coach Blair expressed his delight at the capture.

“He is a proven winner, while at 26 years old he still has plenty of years ahead of him to develop and grow as a player,” he said.

“I’ve obviously worked with Sam during my time with the national team, so I’ve seen first hand how dedicated he is to his craft, while his leadership and experience will bring added strength and depth to what is an already exciting forward pack.”

Skinner added that it was an “extremely hard” decision to leave Exeter.

“I’ve grown up supporting Exeter and lived here all my life,” he told his current club’s website. “What the Chiefs have given me in terms of my career is something I could never have dreamed of.

“To have experience­d what I have, I will forever be grateful.

“As I said, it’s not been an easy decision, but I’ve come to a point in my career where, on a personal and playing level, I need to challenge myself in a different area and this feels like the right time to move on.”

Leicester have agreed terms with their South African back-row forward Cyle Brink that will allow him an early release from his Tigers contract.

The Gallagher Premiershi­p leaders said that Brink would leave Leicester on December 31 and join Pretoria-based United Rugby Championsh­ip side the Vodacom Bulls.

Brink, 27, made his Leicester debut just over a year ago and has featured 19 times.

 ?? ?? Sam Skinner is leaving Exeter to join Edinburgh
Sam Skinner is leaving Exeter to join Edinburgh

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom