Scotland flanker John Hardie has signed for PRO12 side Edinburgh.
The New Zealand-born Scottish international has played his club rugby for the Highlanders in the Super 15, making his name in the Southern Hemisphere.
Atter 52 appearances for the Highlanders in a five-year stint there, Hardie decided not to renew his contract in Dunedin at the end of last season. He chose to enter the 2015 Rugby World Cup as a free-agent, and following Scotland’s very unlucky (and controversial) exit in the quarter-finals, he has now decided to join up with Alan Solomons in the Scottish capital.
Hardie really impressed in the World Cup with Scotland, proving to be a rock in defence. He only made his international debut in August’s warm-up match with Italy, but since then he has become a major part in the Scottish squad.
The openside flanker scored two tries in the World Cup helping towards Scotland’s memorable tournament. He will now be hoping to continue in the same fashion to maintain a place in the starting XV for the 2016 RBS Six Nations.
Hardie will now join back up with Ross Ford, Alisdair Dickinson, WP Nel, David Denton, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne and Matt Scott in Edinburgh ahead of their 2015/16 campaign.
