Rugby: Andy Titterrell joins Edinburgh on one-year deal

Edinburgh have signed 31-year-old British and Irish Lion Andy Titterrell on a one-year deal.

The five-times capped former Leeds Carnegie skipper has been brought in as cover for injured hooker Steven Lawrie, who has been sidelined with a knee injury since December.

Lawrie, who signed a two-year contract extension with the club last month, is expected to be absent at the start of the season, with head coach Michael Bradley bringing in the 2006 English Premiership winner to restore the club’s depth in the position.

Titterrell will compete with fellow Lion and Scotland captain Ross Ford and young prospects Alun Walker, who recently graduated from the club’s elite development player programme, and Scotland U20 hooker George Turner. Bradley said: “We’re very happy to have secured the services 
of such an experienced campaigner. It is disappointing that Steven [Lawrie] won’t be fit for the start of the season. However, this appointment means we keep our strength and depth in a crucial position for the start of the season.

Titterrell said: “I’m absolutely delighted with the opportunity to represent a club like Edinburgh Rugby in the RaboDirect PRO12, a league packed with some of the most successful teams in the past decade.”

Meanwhile, it was announced yesterday that Investment management firm Brewin Dolphin has renewed its sponsorship of the SRU’s flagship schools competitions for boys and girls for a further three years. Brewin Dolphin first joined forces with the SRU in 2000.