Prop McNeil signs professional contract

The Stranraer-born front rower enjoyed a productive season with Heriot's which culminated with McNeil being selected in the Scottish club international team; the third successive year he had been handed that honour.

As a result, McNeil has been rewarded with a two-year professional contract and he says he cannot wait to learn from former Lions forwards coach Robinson on the training pitch.

McNeil said: "Training with Andy has been a great experience; you listen to everything he says because there is always a motive behind it.

"I love his winning attitude and his hardness; I really enjoy the way he coaches.

"He is straight to the point all the time and he never messes about. I like his direct approach and I think I will continue to learn from working with him.

"I'm really excited to be given the chance to play professional rugby for Edinburgh. Last season when I was part of the National Academy I was allowed to train with Edinburgh twice a week, so now it is nice to be able to do that on a full-time basis."

Despite having made his name as an emerging talent at loosehead, McNeil revealed he has been recruited as a tighthead and says he is willing to pull out all the stops in a bid to make a successful transformation.

He added: "Andy has asked me if I would like to sign as a tighthead and the fact that I will be able to play at either side of the scrum gives me a greater chance of getting into the team.

"It is a big transition for me to move from loosehead because I've played in that position for pretty much my whole life and I've only played tighthead on the odd occasion.

"There is a lot hard work ahead for me to adjust to being a tighthead, but I'm willing to put that in to try and establish myself.

"When players are away on international duty with Scotland, hopefully I will have done enough to be given a chance."

McNeil has followed the same path as John Houston by moving from Hawick to Heriot's before joining Edinburgh.

Now the former Scotland under-20 international says he is aiming to make a similar impact during his rookie professional year after gaining an insight into Houston's day-to-day routine; because the pair share a flat together.

He said: "I've known John for a long time and he is my flat-mate in Edinburgh; he makes sure I eat the right things and has given me a lot of advice.

"He tried so hard to get into professional rugby and he took his chance; the way he performed last season really inspired me and I would love to follow in his footsteps.

"Hawick had a lot to do with my progress because I came through the ranks there and then I moved to Heriots. I liked the winning mentality shown by the coaches at Heriots and that is the same mentality at Edinburgh."

Robinson welcomed his latest recruit and highlighted McNeil's attitude as one of the player's strongest attributes.

Robinson said: "Bruce is a very promising prop and his willingness to both learn and adapt suggests he has a very bright future. We are always actively looking to promote young Scottish talent and Bruce will now have a chance to show what he is capable of."

Stephen Gemmell, head of the National Academy, praised McNeil's work-rate and tipped him to do well with Edinburgh.

Gemmell said: "Bruce has worked very hard ever since he joined the Academy and deserves his chance with Edinburgh.

"He has now been given an opportunity and he needs to continue that hard work to make the most of the chance he has got."