Roddy Grant

A team of 28, captained by flanker Roddy Grant, has been announced for Edinburgh Rugby’s opening pre-season friendly against Romania at the Greenyards tonight (Friday 21 August, kick-off 18:30 UK Time, 19:30 SA Time).

Bolstering the backs for this season, Edinburgh Rugby announce the signing of winger Otulea Katoa on a 1-year deal.

The Tongan international, who arrived in the capital earlier this week with his wife and 1-year-old son Eli, will bulk up the backs with a number of players involved with Scotland throughout the year.

The 24-year-old, who has been capped 7 times by Tonga, most recently represented his country in July’s Pacific Nations Cup and has been signed from New Zealand provincial side, Southland.

He said: “I’m looking forward to playing for the club and making Edinburgh my home – I love the history and the culture of the city.  It’s a great playing environment and I want to bring my very best to the team.”

Melrose-born Grant Shiells starts at loosehead with Neil Cochrane at hooker and John Andress at tighthead. Locks Anton Bresler and Fraser McKenzie are joined in the pack by Scotland Under 20 captain Jamie Ritchie on the blindside, captain Roddy Grant at openside and Cornell Du Preez in the No 8 jersey.

Nick McLennan takes the fullback berth with Jamie Farndale and Tom Brown on the right and left wings respectively. The centre pairing of Chris Dean at No 13 and Andries Strauss at No 12, with Phil Burleigh at flyhalf and Nathan Fowles at scrumhalf completes the backs.

A bigger bench than normal will be required at the Greenyards as the capital club take the opportunity to give a number of players game time.

In the forwards, James Hilterbrand, George Turner, Jack Cosgrove, Simon Berghan, Alex Toolis and Magnus Bradbury will be looking to make their mark, this match a 1st time in the Edinburgh colours for Scotland age-grade prop Cosgrove. Prop Allan Dell, who is part of the extended Scotland squad, is also available to play in the match.

Meanwhile new signing, scrumhalf Murdo McAndrew, will join Jade Te Rure, Sam Beard, James Johnstone, Otulea Katoa and Jack Cuthbert in the back replacements. Johnstone, along with a number of Scotland 7s team mates and local club players, took part in Edinburgh’s pre-season training during July and August.

Edinburgh: 15 Nick McLennan, 14 Jamie Farndale, 13 Chris Dean, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Tom Brown, 10 Phil Burleigh, 9 Nathan Fowles, 8 Cornell du Preez, 7 Roddy Grant (Captain), 6 Jamie Ritchie, 5 Fraser McKenzie, 4 Anton Bresler, 3 John Andress, 2 Neil Cochrane, 1 Grant Sheills
Replacements: 16 James Hilterbrand, 17 George Turner, 18 Jack Cosgrove / Allan Dell, 19 Simon Berghan, 20 Alex Toolis, 21 Magnus Bradbury, 22 Murdo McAndrew, 23 Jade Te Rure, 24 Sam Beard, 25 James Johnstone, 26 Otulea Katoa, 27 Jack Cuthbert.