Among the squad are four new signings on two year contracts. They are Dave Hewett, former All Blacks and Canterbury Crusaders prop; Ulster and former Canterbury Crusaders lock Matt Mustchin; returning stand-off Duncan Hodge out of Leeds Tykes; and Peter Jorgensen, former Australia and Northampton Saints' centre, arriving from Rotherham.
Argentinean full-back Francisco Leonelli joins Edinburgh on a one year contract while last year's apprentices Alasdair Dickinson, Ander Monro and Alan MacDonald have been awarded full-time contracts. Part-time players Michael Pyke and Rob Dewey are now also full-time Gunners.
Full-time apprentice contracts have been awarded to Scotland Under-21 centre Nick De Luca alongside Scotland Under-19 trio of back-row Ross Rennie, centre Andrew Easson and winger David McCall.
As they are still in full time education Scotland Under-21s' hooker Steven Lawrie and centre Ben Cairns have been given part-time contracts beside front-rower Kyle Traynor and lock Steven Turnbull.
On the appointments, head coach Hadden said: "I believe we have assembled the strongest ever Edinburgh squad and I'm in no doubt that we have signed quality players who will enhance our club.
"The enthusiasm of the youngsters that we have signed will give everyone a shot in the arm. We have set ourselves up to be extremely competitive and it should be a very exciting season for all supporters of the Edinburgh Gunners," he said.
Phil Smith, national academy coach responsible for the development of Edinburgh's up and coming talent, said: "It's exciting that these young players will have a year of pro-rugby under the apprentice scheme and particularly after last year's apprentices Ander Monro, Alan MacDonald and Alasdair Dickinson have now stepped up to become full-time professionals."
There are seven players leaving the club ahead of next season as Derrick Lee and Craig Joiner retire from professional rugby; Nathan Hines leaves to play for Perpignan in France; Brendan Laney moves to Japan to play for Yamaha; Ben MacDougall has joined the Border Reivers; and Joel Brannigan has moved to London Welsh. Centre Paul Boston is out of contract with the Edinburgh Gunners.
EDINBURGH GUNNERS SQUAD FOR SEASON 2005/06
FULL-TIME CONTRACTED PLAYERS
Todd Blackadder (back row), Mike Blair * (scrum-half), David Callam * (back row), Simon Cross (back row), Rob Dewey * (centre/wing), Matt Dey (centre), Alasdair Dickinson * (prop), Marcus Di Rollo (centre), Phil Godman (stand-off), Dougie Hall (hooker), Dave Hewett (prop), Duncan Hodge (stand-off), Allister Hogg * (back row), Allan Jacobsen (prop), Peter Jorgensen (centre/wing), Alastair Kellock * (lock), Andrew Kelly * (hooker), Rory Lawson * (scrum-half), Francisco Leonelli (full-back/wing), Alan MacDonald * (back row), Ander Monro (stand-off), Scott Murray (lock), Matt Mustchin (lock), Chris Paterson (full-back/wing), Tom Philip * (centre), Fergus Pringle (lock), Michael Pyke (wing), Craig Smith (prop), Hugo Southwell (full-back/wing), Alasdair Strokosch * (back row), Simon Taylor (back row), Simon Webster (wing)
* = member of Scottish Institute of Sport
FULL-TIME APPRENTICES
Nick De Luca (Heriot's and Scottish Institute of Sport) centre/wing
Ross Rennie (Stewart's Melville FP and East of Scotland Institute of Sport) back row
Andrew Easson (Stewart's Melville FP and East of Scotland Institute of Sport) centre
David McCall (Stewart's Melville FP and East of Scotland Institute of Sport) wing
PART TIME APPRENTICES
Ben Cairns (Currie and Scottish Institute of Sport) centre
Steven Lawrie (Watsonians and East of Scotland Institute of Sport) hooker
Kyle Traynor (Boroughmuir and East of Scotland Institute of Sport) prop/hooker
Steven Turnbull (Stirling County and Central Scotland Institute of Sport) lock
PART-TIME PLAYERS
Grant Anderson (Unattached) prop
Jamie Blackwood (Watsonians) scrum-half
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