Edinburgh Rugby sign Irish prop John Andress

John Andress, pictured in action for Worcester Warriors, has signed a two-year deal. Picture: Getty

The 6ft 2in, 18st 3lb tighthead from Belfast was an academy player, age-grade and A-internationalist during the tenure of now Edinburgh head coach Alan Solomons, at Ulster.

In England, Andress has started 41 of his 66 Premiership appearances for Harlequins and then Warriors, after cutting his teeth in three seasons for then Championship side Exeter.

The 30-year-old said: “I’m really excited about joining Edinburgh Rugby. It’s a fantastic rugby club in a great city. I know how good a coach Alan Solomons is and what he brings to the table so I’m delighted to get a chance to work under his guidance again.

“He feels that the club has a good infrastructure in place and is now looking to build on it.

“I’ve earned a lot of experience in two very tough scrummaging leagues and I’m keen to be part of this vision to build a successful club and work with the younger guys and help them develop.”

Solomons, added: “John [Andress] is well known to me from my time in Ulster when he was young boy playing under-20 rugby. He came through the age-grades in Ireland and then, in my opinion, did the right thing in signing for Exeter, who were playing in the Championship.

“After a couple of successful years there, he joined Harlequins and Worcester in the Premiership, which means he comes to us with a lot of tight-head experience earned in the two very competitive divisions.

“He is an outstanding scrummager, but is also good around the field. I think he will bring a lot to this club.

“We need depth in that tighthead position, and he’ll give us a lot of experience in that role.”