De Luca to join Biarritz

De Luca rejoined the club from Border Reivers in the summer of 2007 and has gone on to make 125 appearances for the club and earn 41 caps for his country.

He made his Scotland debut during the 2008 RBS 6 Nations championship and was part of the Scotland team that recorded a series victory in Argentina in 2010, starting at outside centre in the first test victory in Tucuman.

Edinburgh Rugby head coach Alan Solomons, said: "There comes a time in a player's career sometimes, especially when you've been at a club for a long period, that you realise you could benefit from something fresh and new."

"It will be reinvigorating for him, while it opens up opportunities for others in the club, for example young Scottish centres Michael Tait and Chris Dean, who we've already signed for next season."

"Nick [De Luca] has been a great servant of the club over the years and we wish him the very best."

Originally an apprentice at Edinburgh, De Luca cut his teeth at the Border Reivers under Steve Bates and made his debut for the team during the opening match of the 2006/07 league season.

A year later he returned to the Scottish capital and made his first appearance in the black and red as a full-back, away against Leinster in September 2007.
His opening try was in the home defeat against Dragons the following month and he subsequently found himself selected at centre, a position he has retained for the past six seasons.

De Luca said: "I would like to thank Edinburgh Rugby for the last eight years."

"I have sunk my heart and soul into the club and loved being a part of it. It's not only where I have learnt my rugby but where I have grown up, had a family and become the person I am today."

"I have been privileged to work with some fantastic coaches, to have rubbed shoulders with some of the world's elite players, and to call some truly inspiring men my friends."

"I will always be proud of my time here and leave with no regrets. I respect the club in their decision to move in a different direction and I wish the young Scottish lads all the best coming through."

"My family and I are ecstatic to be joining a club with such great rugby pedigree and can't wait to get stuck in."