Edinburgh sign Nikki Walker in two-year deal

WITH Tim Visser scoring tries for fun on left wing, Edinburgh are looking to double their potency on the flanks next season with the signing of Scotland international Nikki Walker from Worcester.

The 31-year-old sealed a two-year deal with the club yesterday, ending a seven-year sojourn in England and Wales with Ospreys and Worcester.

Walker’s arrival in the summer gives Edinburgh the opportunity to field two wingers who are among the top five try-scorers in the RaboDirect Pro12, with Visser at the top of the tree alongside Irishman Tommy Bowe on 48 and Walker three places behind on 36.

Capped 24 times by Scotland, Walker missed a season of rugby after being injured in Scotland’s World Cup warm-up Test against Italy in 2011, but he has come back strongly this season and played in Scotland A’s rare victory on English soil against the Saxons in February.

At 6’4” and just under 17 stones, Walker is very much in the mould of the modern international winger, and arrives with a proven try-scoring record of 63 in 172 appearances for the Border Reivers, Ospreys and Worcester, as well as six for Scotland.

And he made no secret yesterday of his delight at teaming up with playmakers such as Greig Laidlaw and Matt Scott, and finishers like Visser, at Edinburgh.

He said: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time playing outside of Scotland, but I’ve always had a burning desire to return north, so when the opportunity came to sign for Edinburgh Rugby I grabbed it with both hands.

“The club have some real quality players in the squad and I believe that, together, we can build a strong future and compete with the top teams on the domestic and European stage.

“Personally, as a winger, I’m looking forward to joining up with some of the championship’s most dangerous play-makers and finishers. I can’t wait for next season to start.”

Born in Aberdeen and raised in the Borders, the former Hawick High School pupil represented Scotland at every age-grade, and helped Hawick complete a domestic double, before joining the Border Reivers in 2002. Walker won the old Magners League with Ospreys in 2007, and grabbed a second Celtic title with the Welsh club in the Rabo-Direct Pro12 in 2012 before his move to Worcester.

He made his international debut in the Autumn Tests against Romania of 2002 and scored his first try for Scotland a week later in the memorable 21-6 triumph over South Africa, his selection a reward for running in 11 tries for the Borders up to that point in the season. But he was unable to hold down a place in the Scotland team and spent four years in the international wilderness before strong performances for Ospreys, whom he joined in 2006, brought him back into the fold.

He appeared as a replacement in the 21-9 win against Wales at Murrayfield in February 2007, before scoring an early try against France in Paris the following month.

Walker went on to score four more tries for Scotland, including one against Italy at Murrayfield in his last Six Nations appearance to date in 2011.

His form in that campaign appeared to have him inked in for the World Cup in New Zealand, but a knee injury sustained in the dying minutes of the friendly against Italy scuppered that and resulted in limited game-time for his new club, Worcester, when he joined them the following year.

But his international ambitions have not waned. He added: “Being passionate Scots, my family are delighted that we’re moving home to Scotland where I still have a strong desire to represent my country, something I can achieve by earning selection and performing for Edinburgh Rugby.”

That was backed up by his head coach at Worcester – whom he leaves at the end of the season – Richard Hill. “Nikki retains strong international aspirations and has been a part of the Scotland set-up during the recent Six Nations campaign,” he said.

“His move to Edinburgh should help his ambitions to play for his country once again, and he will leave us at the end of the season with our best wishes.”

Edinburgh Rugby managing director Craig Docherty, added yesterday: “We’re delighted to welcome another top Scottish talent on to the playing roster at Edinburgh Rugby.

“Nikki has an established try-scoring pedigree and brings a wealth of experience, having consistently delivered top-class performances throughout his club and international career.

“It was fantastic to see him back in action for Scotland A recently, and I believe that we’ll see the best of him at Murrayfield next season.”