Edinburgh sign Scotland qualified Nick Auterac

Edinburgh have confirmed the signing of Scotland qualified former England U20s prop Nick Auterac from Northampton Saints.

Auterac, 29, is a former Saracens, Bath, and Harlequins frontrower and was selected for last year’s cancelled Scotland Summer Tests and he is now getting ready for what he considers “an enormously exciting next chapter” in Edinburgh.

“When the opportunity to sign Nick [Auterac] came about, we jumped at it,” said Mike Blair. “Having coached him with Scotland, and watched his games in the English Premiership, we know the type of player he is and the added quality he can bring to the squad.

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“We’ve got a really talented group of looseheads at the club already with Pierre Schoeman, Boan Venter and Jamie Jack – while Harrison Courtney will once again be with us on a partnership contract – but as we’ve seen with injuries and international call-ups, it’s vital to build a strong squad with players that can step up straight away.”

The Saracens academy product spent loan spells at both London Scottish and Bedford Blues, before making the move to Bath in 2014. He amassed a total of 46 appearances in four seasons at The Rec before signing for Harlequins in 2018. After two years at The Stoop, the former Mill Hill School pupil made the move to Northampton in 2020.

Auterac believes he can develop into a world-class scrummager.

“The city speaks for itself,” said Auterac. “I have visited briefly in the past and enjoyed that short trip whilst everyone I have spoken to, inside and outside of rugby, cannot speak highly enough of both Edinburgh Rugby and the Scottish capital.

“Joining Edinburgh is an extremely exciting next chapter for me. The club has been in great form over the last few seasons.”

“The opportunity to play in not only the URC but also the Champions Cup is a challenge I am relishing. As a player, I would like to think my set piece is up there with the best and I believe I can be a world class scrummager.

“I also like to think, for a prop, I am a pretty good runner of the ball with some speed and obviously quite a bit of weight behind me.

“The general high standards of the squad and club was a huge factor in me joining and wanting to develop further as a player.

“I have also been fortunate to work with Mike Blair in previous Scotland camps, we had a really good relationship and he was another major factor for me signing in Edinburgh.”