Bath’s Grant Shiells signs for Edinburgh Rugby

The Melrose-born prop, who has represented Scotland at under-19, under-20 and A levels, returns north of the Border after joining current fourth-placed Aviva Premiership side Bath this summer.

Prior to running out at the Rec, he spent five seasons with Newcastle Falcons, after signing from Kelso RFC in the summer of 2009.

His first premiership start for Falcons, in his debut season, was the win over Sale which secured the club’s place in Premiership rugby for the following season - they went on to finish 9th in the league that year.

Shiells, who starts training with the club today, said: “Edinburgh was the team that I grew up supporting so I’m looking forward to joining the squad.

“When I was younger, I used to enjoy watching Todd Blackadder – a big, impressive ball carrier – and more recently, Fordy [Ross Ford]. Obviously he’s a Kelso boy too, and I looked up to him.

“I knew Michael Tait and Fraser McKenzie from Newcastle and then there’s Grant Gilchrist and Rambo [Stuart McInally] who I played alongside at Scotland under-20 level.”

The Kelso HS former pupil continued to study at Edinburgh’s Napier University while representing Scotland at under-19 and under-20 levels.

After playing for Scotland under-20 at the 2009 Junior World Cup in Japan, Shiells came off the bench early in 2013 for Scotland A in the 13-9 win over England Saxons in Newcastle. Prior to that, he had been invited to train with the national squad ahead of the 2012 autumn Test against New Zealand.

With the family base still in Kelso, Shiells is eagerly anticipating his return and what he can bring to the squad. He said: “Hopefully that’ll be in the shape of my scrummaging – I’m just looking forward to getting stuck in about, really.”

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