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Edinburgh complete double transfer swoop, snapping up pair from Harlequins including James Lang
Edinburgh have announced the double signing of Scotland international James Lang and ex-U20s capped second row Glen Young from English Premiership side Harlequins. The duo are the first new signings ahead of the 2021/22 season.
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Edinburgh boss Richard Cockerill said: “It’s great to announce a couple of new faces to show how our plans for the future continue to take shape. James and Glen are quality, experienced individuals – one of them an international, the other of international quality.
“They will add a new dynamic to our depth and competition for places in a number of areas. James is a player we have been interested in for a long time now, so it’s fantastic to secure his signature for the club.
“He’s a talented, international back who can play in a number of specialist positions and will be a real asset to us. We are equally pleased to sign Glen, a Borders man who has spent his senior professional playing career in the English Premiership.
“He will now get a taste of a new competition, which he is really excited about. He is another player we have known a lot about for a long time. He is a talented individual and a hard worker – the type who will fit in well to our environment.”
Edinburgh complete the double signing of Scotland internationalist James Lang and Scottish lock Glen Young from @Harlequins.
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— Edinburgh Rugby (@EdinburghRugby) January 12, 2021
Scotland international Lang, 25, has made 73 appearances for Harlequins to date – scoring eleven tries and 204 points – since joining in 2016. He earned his Scotland Test debut in the win over Canada in 2018, also coming off the bench against Argentina in the win later that tour.
He said: “I was really excited when I got the opportunity to speak with Richard Cockerill and had a good chat with him on how he views the club and how he sees me fitting in. After that chat, I had pretty much made my mind up.
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“I’m also looking forward to be joining the Guinness PRO14. Whenever I have played European games against the likes of Munster and Ulster, it’s always been a good test. Going to those places was always amazing, so the prospect of going there each season and challenging myself against some of the best players is exciting to me, and another reason I jumped at the opportunity.”
Young, meanwhile, came through the ranks at Riverside Park before kick-starting his professional career with Newcastle Falcons in 2012 as an academy prospect, alongside representing Scotland U20. He spent three seasons at Kingston Park as a senior player (2016-2019) before moving to Harlequins last year where he has been a regular starter along with Lang.
The 6ft 7ins, 118kg lock, who turned 26 in November, said: “I’m buzzing to get started with Edinburgh. I’ve been in the English Premiership since I was 18 and enjoyed it but am now really looking forward to a new challenge in a new competition.
“Edinburgh is perfect for me. I spoke to Richard and was encouraged by where he sees me fitting in but also with the areas of my game he can help me improve on. I have a young baby with my other half and we are looking forward to being closer to home so he can grow up close to family and friends.”
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The signings are in stark contrast to how Edinburgh fared last week in competition with the Gallagher Premiership, losing the services of Duhan van der Merwe and Andrew Davidson to Worcester and Gloucester respectively.
Van der Merwe's move to the Premiership has raised the debate again on eligibility rules. https://t.co/HCicld6SKM
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 5, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
41 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
41 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
41 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
41 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
41 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
41 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
41 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
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