Thursday 13 April 2017 12:16, UK
Scotland and Edinburgh second-row Grant Gilchrist has penned a new two-year contract, the club confirmed on Thursday.
The 26-year-old Stirling native has committed to the club until 2019, with former Leicester Tigers boss Richard Cockerill set to take charge in the Scottish capital next season.
Gilchrist was named Edinburgh co-captain at the beginning of the current campaign and had been capped 16 times by Scotland, featuring once in the 2017 Six Nations against Italy.
"I'm absolutely delighted to re-sign with Edinburgh Rugby," Gilchrist told the official Edinburgh website.
"Admittedly it's been a tough year and we're disappointed with recent results but I'm looking forward to helping the club move forward. I'm excited to see what this group can produce over the next few seasons.
"I'm desperate for this club to be successful and I believe we will achieve what we want to in the next few years.
"If you look across the board we've got competition for places and every week people are going to be battling for their spot.
"The contest for a place in the second-row has been really good for me as I feel it's making me a better player and I hope that I'm making the other locks better too."
Gilchrist has suffered in recent years due to a serious arm injury, but the lock has still appeared for Edinburgh on 95 occasions since his debut in 2011.
"It's great to have Grant, another experienced internationalist, commit to the club for the coming seasons," interim head coach Duncan Hodge added.
"He's a quality operator around the park and at set-piece, and is a natural leader in a young squad. His presence is one valued by the staff and players.
"He's had an unfortunate run with injuries over the last few seasons but it's great to see him back and battling for his spot in a competitive second-row."
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