Neil Cochrane ‘excited’ by Edinburgh homecoming

Neil Cochrane, centre, has signed a deal with Edinburgh. Picture: Getty

The 30-year-old’s signature comes after a nine-year exile south of the Border, with eight years spent in the English Championship followed by a season with London Wasps in the Premiership.

The experienced hooker has also played for Bedford Blues, Doncaster Knights, Rotherham Titans, Watsonians and Boroughmuir.

The ex-Boroughmuir High School pupil, who made a positional switch from back-row to hooker in the middle of his career and also captained Scotland Under-21s, will arrive in the summer as part of the club’s ongoing plans to act early and build a formidable squad for the forthcoming campaign.

Cochrane said: “I’m an Edinburgh boy so it’s great to fulfil a life-long ambition to play for the team where I was born and grew up. It’s taken nine hard years of graft to prove my worth. I never gave up on earning a return to Edinburgh and I’m really excited to join.

“Wasps helped me prove that I was capable of playing at that level, so when Edinburgh came knocking at the door it was a dream come true.”

Edinburgh head coach Alan Solomons added: “What’s important here is that we have a good Scottish player who has gone away and done it the tough, hard way. We’ve kept a very close eye on Neil [Cochrane] who’s got talent.

“It’s great to bring a player who’s from the region back into the fold. He’s exceptionally committed to coming here.”

lLasswade will host the National Youth League Cup and Bowl finals, at Hawthornden on Sunday, 16 February. Scottish Rugby’s head of clubs and schools, Nick Rennie, said: “Lasswade are used to hosting high profile matches with many representative fixtures having being held there in recent years, including international games for the Scotland Women’s side.

“The ground includes two floodlit pitches of international size, a 340-seater stand, standing capacity for a further 2,000 spectators and a large clubhouse for hospitality and catering. This will provide a great venue for this season’s finalists.”

An alternate venue is still to be confirmed for the Brewin Dolphin Girls’ Cup finals and, as previously scheduled, the Brewin Dolphin Under-18 and Under-16 Plate and Shield finals will remain on the back pitches at Murrayfield next Wednesday, 5 February.