 Back in black: Edinburgh hooker Steve Lawrie |
Edinburgh have today deepened their reserves of front row experience and ability by finalising a deal to bring Steve Lawrie back to his home-town club.
The 27-year-old hooker, who spent four seasons with the club between 2005 and 2009, returns to the Scottish capital having impressed and captained RFU Championship side Doncaster Knights under former Edinburgh head coach Lynn Howells.
Lawrie has also received expert attention from Scotland specialist scrum coach Massimo Cuttitta, who offers set-piece guidance at Castle Park alongside his role with the national team.
Lawrie’s form this season earned him Scotland A appearances against USA Eagles and Italy A, and he is now set to vie with the likes of Ross Ford and Andrew Kelly for a spot in the Edinburgh front row in the coming campaign.
He becomes new head coach Michael Bradley’s third summer signing, former Sale Sharks players Sean Cox (lock) and Chris Leck (scrum-half) having already put pen to paper.
Lawrie, who captained Edinburgh to successive championship wins at under-18, 19 and 20, told www.edinburghrugby.org: “I’ve stayed a fan of Edinburgh while I’ve been away so it’s great to get the chance to come back. I’m really excited about the professional challenge.
“I’ve spoken to a lot of fans and players about the ambitions of the club and I’m acutely aware of how people what to push the club forward and get the results we all want.
“I left because I needed to play more to develop my game and Doncaster offered me the chance to play regularly in the Championship, which is a seriously competitive league, especially up front, and I believe I’m returning to the club a more rounded and experienced player.
“Edinburgh has some fantastic hookers in Ross Ford and Andrew Kelly, as well as the up and coming Alun Walker, so it’s going to be difficult but I’m here to fight for a place and push Edinburgh Rugby forward, through training and when I’m given the opportunity to play, but that begins with earning respect of my team mates in pre-season training.
“I’m delighted to be back.”
Bradley confirmed: “It’s great to have Steve on board, and I’m excited about the competition he’s going to bring to the hooker berth.
“He’s a powerful scrummager, an effective presence in the loose and a player who brings an excellent attitude and work-rate.”
Lawrie’s first chance to reacquaint himself with the Edinburgh crowd could arrive in the pre-season friendly against Newcastle Falcons at Murrayfield on Friday 26 August (kick-off 7.30pm).
As well as providing a high-octane test for Bradley and his troops, the game will see a series of new measures put in place with the intention of improving the match-day atmosphere at Murrayfield in season 2011/12. Please see below for details.
SIGN UP FOR NEW PERSPECTIVES IN SEASON 2011/12! All of Edinburgh's Heineken Cup home games are included in our 2011/12 season ticket package, where supporters can get closer to the on-field action with seating in the east stand and new pitch-side standing areas. Buy before 30 June and you could win a hospitality package for ten people to one of our home Heineken Cup matches! Season tickets are prices at £35 for under-18s, £90 for students/senior citizens and £180 for adults. For more information on the benefits of being an Edinburgh season ticket holder, and to book in for the campaign under new head coach Michael Bradley, visit www.edinburghrugby.org, call 0131 346 5180 or visit the Murrayfield Ticket Centre (just off Roseburn Street) in person.
Steven Lawrie
Steven Lawrie's representative honours include Scotland under-19, 21 and, latterly, Scotland 7s and Scotland A. He first joined Edinburgh as an apprentice in 2005 before signing a full contract in the summer of 2007. His debut for Edinburgh was as a replacement in the Celtic League victory against Leinster at Donnybrook in November that year. Another replacement appearance followed in the next game (against Glasgow), but he had to wait more than a year for his first start for Edinburgh: coincidentally, that also was against Leinster at Donnybrook in the Heineken Cup match in January 2006. Steve captained the Edinburgh under-18, under-19 and under-20 teams who won their respective district championships in successive years (2002 to 2004).
After four seasons with Edinburgh Rugby, Stevie moved to Doncaster Knights for two season, captaining the side in his second (2010/11) and making his Scotland A debut in the 25-0 win over USA Eagles at Netherdale in November 2010 and, as a replacement, in the 11-3 success against Italy A in February 2011.
The Stewart’s Melville College former pupil, is a physical education graduate from Edinburgh University.
