Rugby: Fitzgerald feels Lozada can lift Edinburgh hopes

That's the view of former Toulon team-mate and Scotland A cap, Phil Fitzgerald, who said: "As soon as Esteban told me he had signed for Edinburgh I said it was a good move for him and, vice versa, the club.

"I've played with Esteban for three years and my gut feeling is that he will do really well at Edinburgh."

Fitzgerald has been a fixture at Toulon for the last decade after spells with Boroughmuir and Watsonians.

He added: "From what I know of Magners League teams from facing them in the European Challenge Cup Esteban's style will suit that competition.

"Esteban is good at calling line-outs, gets around the park with ball in hand and isn't scared of the nitty gritty.

"At Edinburgh he will get the right conditioning work in order to progress his career."

Echoing remarks in these columns a fortnight ago by Edinburgh-born prop Bruce Douglas about his experiences at Montpellier, Fitzgerald said: "Until recently conditioning work in French rugby was a bit of a free-for-all.

"Toulon have led the way in changing the approach by bringing in specialist coaching but players have been left to their own devices a lot of the time in French rugby.

"The British clubs are ahead in that respect and with the type of programme he will get at Edinburgh and regular game time Esteban will flourish.

"He was a regular in Toulon's super-14 side but a change of approach saw him slip behind a French A cap, a signing from (Natal) Sharks and Kris Chesney from Saracens which was our coach's right.

Lozada stands six foot four inches tall and weighs just under 17 stone.

Fitzgerald added: "It isn't reasonable to expect Esteban to crash upfield with the ball but he is really mobile.

"The ability is still there to do really well at Edinburgh."

Lozada has been signed to replace Jim Hamilton who is moving to Gloucester after failing to agree terms with Stade Francais.

Meanwhile Fitzgerald is planning his next rugby move after indicating he was "90 per cent certain" to retire.

Said the former Scotland under-21 cap: "I've had a fabulous career and this may be the time to put more emphasis on completing the studies I originally went to France to undertake although I have had offers from local Division Three sides.

"At some point I'd like to get into coaching and could have a meeting with Toulon in the next ten days about assisting with their academy set-up as an initial step in that direction."