Roddy Grant’s new contract eases pain of season

EDINBURGH’S season may have been painful for players and supporters, but few have suffered like Roddy Grant.

The openside flanker has battled injury over the past two seasons and, this year, played on despite pain in his arm during and after games. Grant has finally had to surgery to fix a ligament problem in his wrist and, with Edinburgh not set for to be in the play-offs, is expected to be out for the season.

The ex-skipper has been handed a boost, though, in the form of a two-year contract through to 2015.

Grant said: “I’m delighted because I want to play a part in helping get Edinburgh back to where they belong.

“I know that I will come back better and stronger, probably for next season now.

“It has been a frustrating season from a personal point of view and from the team’s perspective but I really want to help do what I can to start rectifying this season and push the club on.”

Grant has 12 Scotland A caps but has yet to make the step-up to the full team

He has started 71 of his 87 appearances for Edinburgh since impressing on his debut against Ulster in 2009 and, now schooled by former openside Neil Back, retains a burning desire to follow his great-uncle “Dod” Burrell into the Scotland jersey. Grant said: “That is important to me. It was very disappointing not to be included in the Six Nations squad but I feel that Edinburgh is a good place to be to continue to try and get into the Scotland set-up.

“When guys are signing for the club, they have to be signing for the club first and foremost, and that’s the same for me.

“But, of course, there is a big draw to try to get my cap, as it were.”