Stuart McInally agrees new deal with Edinburgh Rugby

Edinburgh Rugby have announced a new contract for Stuart McInally while also handing the hooker the captaincy for this Friday's European Challenge Cup match with Agen.

Stuart McInally has signed a new deal until 2018 and was named captain of this weekend's side. Picture: SNS

McInally has been with the capital club with 2010 and will remain at Murrayfield until 2018.

The player said: “I’m really happy to have extended for another couple of years.

“I’ve been part of this process of rebuilding the club since Alan arrived, I’m now coming through in my new position as hooker and it’s a really exciting place to play at the moment.”

McInally will captain a much changed Edinburgh line-up in tomorrow’s European Challenge Cup Pool 5 match against Agen at BT Murrayfield.

Coach Alan Solomons has made 11 changes from the side that beat Treviso in the Guinness Pro12 last Friday, resting a number of frontline players.

Mike Allen and Andries Strauss form a new-look centre partnership, while Sean Kennedy replaces Sam Hidalgo-Clyne at scrum-half and teams up with stand-off Greig Tonks.

In the forwards, locks Ben and Alex Toolis become the first twin brothers to start a Scottish pro-team game together, while the young trio of Magnus Bradbury, Jamie Ritchie and Hamish Watson form the back row