MacLeod starts afresh at Edinburgh

SCOTT MacLeod will return to Scottish rugby next week to start training with Edinburgh and begin the fight to forget an "annus horribilis" and regain his standing as a Scottish internationalist.

Released from the Scarlets "by mutual consent", the 29-year-old completed a medical yesterday and agreed terms on a 29-month contract that will make him an Edinburgh player until the summer of 2011.

The move cuts short a demoralising third season at the Scarlets, where coach Nigel Davies had blended new overseas signings and young Welsh talents and frozen out the Scot.

This exclusion heaped misery onto a five-week period when he was forced out of the sport after a second run-in with the drugs testing authorities.

After being warned over an administration mix-up for asthma treatment in February last year, MacLeod sat idle for much of October and November while UK Sport and the SRU satisfied themselves that a high testosterone level in a random test was the result purely of naturally high levels and a night of celebratory drinks.

The governing bodies decided in his favour and he was cleared, but the Scarlets did not play him again until last weekend's Heineken Cup match with Harlequins, when he came off the bench with 30 minutes remaining.

MacLeod successfully negotiated a release from his current contract, to move to a team where he has a more realistic chance of playing. With Edinburgh's next match not until 21 February, in the Magners League away to Munster, the lock has time to step up his fitness.

Ironically, he could feature in a reserve match against a Welsh team, Crawshays Welsh, which has been arranged for next Friday night at Lasswade (7pm).

MacLeod said: "I've loved my time in West Wales. It's been a great experience at the Scarlets and I'm proud to have been part of a club with such a wonderful tradition, but things weren't working out this season.

"I'm determined to continue playing at international level which means I need regular regional rugby so I made the decision for me and my family to move on.

"I definitely feel I'm making the right move and I'm really excited at the prospect of playing for Edinburgh.

"I was coached by Andy Robinson while on tour with Scotland over in Argentina, and working with him on a day-to-day basis will definitely help me to improve as a player. He is a hard coach, but he gets the best out of his players.

"It is the best move I could have made at this stage in my career, especially after going through a difficult year. I'm looking forward to a fresh start and working hard towards achieving my career goals for Edinburgh and Scotland."

A return to Scotland was not clear-cut as a handful of clubs in France and England had tabled attractive offers with his agent.

But, as well as the lure of being under the nose of the Scotland coaches, the turmoil generated in his family life – in a year in which he and wife Adele celebrated the birth of their first child – has also made home comforts and the close proximity of a supportive family more important.

The 18-times capped lock is an uncompromising, but skilful player, one who should suit Edinburgh's style and Scotland's return to a more mobile, ball-handling game – there is great potential for a blend with the two-stone heavier Jim Hamilton.

Craig Hamilton and Ben Gissing, and currently injured duo Matt Mustchin and Steven Turnbull, will have their own ideas about MacLeod's arrival, which should stir the competition, but it will inevitably re-awaken criticism of the SRU in curtailing opportunities for younger talents with just two pro teams.

But it is good timing for Robinson who is determined to keep Edinburgh in the Magners League race through the Six Nations period.

The coach is still in the market for new faces to strengthen his squad with a big ball-carrying No8 and a powerful wing among the targets, but he was delighted to increase the number of Scottish caps in a now 42-man squad to 18.

He said: "Scott is a quality second row forward and he will provide extra strength in that department, especially with Matt (Mustchin] and Steven (Turnbull] still out through injury.

"I'm looking forward to working with him again after our time together in Argentina and I believe he will be a useful signing. He will have to work hard in order to challenge for a place in our pack and his arrival underlines our ambitions as we look to achieve our best-ever finish in the Magners League.

"This is a good move for both Edinburgh and Scottish rugby."