Born in Wordsley, the flight-footed 22-year-old winger/full-back is a product of the Warriors’ academy and moves north to link up with the club’s defence coach, Billy McGinty, who joined last summer after six years at Sixways.

His arrival augments Edinburgh Rugby’s back-three resources, which include the increasingly prominent full-back Tom Brown, wingers Lee Jones and try-machine Tim Visser, the latter available for Scotland selection this summer.

Edinburgh Rugby head coach, Michael Bradley, said: “Mike [Penn] is a talented young player and is very excited about the opportunity to play for Edinburgh Rugby.

“He’s an ambitious young man and arrives knowing that he has to work hard and have a big year to secure a longer term.

“That kind of pressure can bring the best out of players, particularly when competition for places in our back-three is increasingly fierce.”

Penn arrived late to the sport for a professional player, picking up the oval ball aged 14 for Starbridge rugby club.

When he was16 he signed for the Premiership side’s Academy before earning selection for England under-18 and enjoying a successful spell at associated Championship side Birmingham & Solihull.

He then returned to the Warriors to impress for the A side, making four appearances for the senior squad before taking on a second championship loan spell at Nottingham.

Penn checked into the stadium for a fitness test last month and revealed the visit to the ground and the buzz at the club sealed the deal for the West Midlands flyer.

“My first thoughts when I arrived were centred around the training facilities and the quality of the coaching staff, particularly their ideas and ambitions to take the club forward,” he explained.

“Edinburgh Rugby have been one of Europe’s top sides this season so I’m really looking forward to getting in there, working hard as part of a quality squad and proving myself.

“I couldn’t ask for much more really. The type of rugby they play really suits me, that’s my type of game. I like to play the ball and avoid contact using my pace, I can’t wait to show it on the big pitch at Murrayfield.”

Penn joins eight other new faces making their way to Murrayfield next season, including South African prop WP Nel; All Black back and former Junior World Player of the Year, Ben Atiga; and Welsh caps John Yapp (prop) and Richie Rees (scrum-half), while 19 of the club’s top performing players have also extended contracts.

Michael Penn (22)

DOB: 7 August 1989 in Wordsley, Height: 1.75 m (5′ 9"), Weight 85 kg (13st 4lb)

Position: Full-back/wing

Honours: England U18

Visser, who qualifies to play for Scotland this summer, is once again the leading try scorer in the RaboDirect PRO12 and has bagged 36 tries in 56 appearances for Edinburgh up to Round 22 of the 2011/12 campaign this weekend.

That total has worked him into third place in the PRO12 all-time try scoring list level with Nikki Walker and just behind Shane Horgan (39) and Tommy Bowe (46). He picked up 15 out of a possible 28 votes for the two wing positions, with his nearest rivals way back on four.

There are five players in the 2011/12 Dream Team who have retained their place from the previous year. A panel of 14 journalists from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales were canvassed to select the team after 19 rounds of the tournament and four of the returning players were in the back line.

Leinster’s utility back Isa Nacewa once again won the full back shirt, beating off the strong challenge of Glasgow Warriors rising star Stuart Hogg, while Ruan Pienaar was the overwhelming choice at scrum half with 10 of the 14 votes.

Cardiff Blues centre Casey Laulala was the other player to make it two in a row as he won the race to join the Ospreys’ Ashley Beck (8 votes) at centre. His Blues team mate, Wales Grand Slam wing Alex Cuthbert, took the left wing spot on try count over Munster’s Simon Zebo.

It was also tight at outside half, where Glasgow Warriors’ Duncan Weir just pipped Leinster’s Ian Madigan for the No 10 jersey after both players received four votes. In the end, Weir’s superior scoring record earned him the half-back berth alongside Pienaar.

Only one forward survived from the 2010/11 Dream Team, Leinster hooker Richardt Strauss. He polled eight votes with the Ospreys’ Richard Hibbard his nearest rival with three.

There was another close call at loose head prop, where Glasgow’s Jon Welsh and Leinster’s Heinke van der Merwe were locked on three votes each. In the end, the decision went to Welsh on the basis he had scored three tries to Van der Merwe’s one.

Munster’s BJ Botha beat off the challenge of Ospreys’ Adam Jones and Ulster’s John Afoa to complete the front row as the tight head choice. There were 15 different players put forward for the two second row positions, but Ulster’s Dan Tuohy and Glasgow’s Tom Ryder were the clear favourites over some illustrious candidates.

Tuohy topped the poll with six votes, while Ryder had four, and their elevation into the Dream Team was a reflection on their reliability and durability at the heart of their respective packs over the season.

The back row comprises three players who failed to make their nation’s World Cup squads, yet all featured in the RBS 6 Nations. Edinburgh’s Dave Denton took the blindside flanker position ahead of nine other candidates, while new England No 8 Ben Morgan, of the Scarlets, crowned his great season by polling twice as many votes as his nearest rival.

The No 7 jersey went to the Ospreys outstanding openside flanker Justin Tipuric, who received the third highest number of votes of any player – Visser 15, Pienaar 10 – with nine to leave the 2011 nominee, Sam Warburton, trailing in his wake.

No fewer than 89 players from all 12 clubs in the RaboDirect PRO12 received votes and the final make up of the team is as follows:

RaboDirect PRO12 Dream Team 2011/12: Isa Nacewa (Leinster), Tim Visser (Edinburgh), Casey Laulala (Cardiff Blues), Ashley Beck (Ospreys), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues); Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors), Ruan Pienaar (Ulster); Jon Welsh (Glasgow Warriors), Richardt Strauss (Leinster), BJ Botha (Munster), Dan Tuohy (Ulster), Tom Ryder (Glasgow Warriors), Dave Denton (Edinburgh), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Ben Morgan (Scarlets)

Teams (8):Glasgow Warriors 3, Cardiff Blues 2, Edinburgh 2, Leinster 2, Ospreys 2, Ulster 2, Munster 1, Scarlets 1

RABODIRECT PRO12 DREAM TEAM 2011 / 12

• FULL BACK – ISA NACEWA (LEINSTER)
• RIGHT WING – TIM VISSER (EDINBURGH)
• OUTSIDE CENTRE – CASEY LAULALA (CARDIFF BLUES)
• INSIDE CENTRE – ASHLEY BECK (OSPREYS)
• LEFT WING – ALEX CUTHBERT (CARDIFF BLUES)
• OUTSIDE HALF – DUNCAN WEIR (GLASGOW WARRIORS)
• SCRUM HALF – RUAN PIENAAR (ULSTER)
• LOOSE HEAD PROP – JON WELSH (GLASGOW WARRIORS)
• HOOKER – RICHARDT STRAUSS (LEINSTER)
• TIGHT HEAD PROP – BJ BOTHA (MUNSTER)
• LOCK – DAN TUOHY (ULSTER)
• LOCK – TOM RYDER (GLASGOW WARRIORS)
• BLINDSIDE FLANKER – DAVE DENTON (EDINBURGH)
• OPENSIDE FLANKER – JUSTIN TIPURIC (OSPREYS)
• N0 8 – BEN MORGAN (SCARLETS)

Dream Team 2010/11:Isa Nacewa (Leinster); Fionn Carr (Connacht), Casey Laulala (Cardiff Blues), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Tim Visser (Edinburgh); Ronan O’Gara (Munster), Ruan Pienaar (Ulster); Iestyn Thomas (Scarlets), Richardt Strauss (Leinster), Mike Ross (Leinster), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors), Sean O’Brien (Leinster), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster)

Teams (9):Leinster 5, Blues 2, Scarlets 2, Ospreys 1, Connacht 1, Glasgow Warriors 1, Edinburgh 1, Munster 1, Ulster 1

Dream Team 2009/10:Ben Blair (Cardiff Blues); Tommy Bowe (Ospreys), Brian O’Driscoll (Leinster), James Hook (Ospreys), Tim Visser (Edinburgh); Dan Parks (Glasgow Warriors), Tomas O’Leary (Munster); Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Leo Cullen (Leinster), Ali Kellock (Glasgow Warriors), Jerry Collins (Ospreys), John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors),

Jamie Heaslip (Leinster)

Teams (7):Ospreys 4, Glasgow Warriors 3, Leinster 3, Blues 2, Edinburgh 1, Munster 1, Scarlets 1

Dream Team 2008/09:Lee Byrne (Ospreys); Tommy Bowe (Ospreys), Brian O’Driscoll (Leinster), Lifeimi Mafi (Munster), Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues); Ronan O’Gara (Munster), Mike Phillips (Ospreys); Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Jerry Flannery (Munster), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Paul O’Connell (Munster), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Rocky Elsom (Leinster), Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster)

Teams (4):Ospreys 5, Munster 4, Leinster 3, Blues 3

Dream Team 2007/08: Ben Blair (Cardiff Blues); Tommy Bowe (Ulster), Lifeimi Mafi (Munster), Nick de Luca (Edinburgh), Shane Williams (Ospreys); Felipe Contepomi (Leinster), Mike Blair (Edinburgh); Ollie Le Roux (Leinster), Bernard Jackman (Leinster), Stan Wright (Leinster), Malcolm O’Kelly (Leinster), Leo Cullen (Leinster), Ryan Jones (Ospreys), Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster)

Teams (6):Leinster 7, Blues 2, Edinburgh 2, Ospreys 2, Munster 1, Ulster 1

Dream Team 2006/07: Ben Blair (Cardiff Blues); Denis Hickie (Leinster), Regan King (Scarlets), Gordon D’Arcy (Leinster), Shane Williams (Ospreys); Felipe Contepomi (Leinster), Mike Phillips (Cardiff Blues); Iestyn Thomas (Scarlets), Matthew Rees (Scarlets), Euan Murray (Glasgow Warriors), Justin Harrison (Ulster), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Simon Easterby (Scarlets), Colin Charvis (Dragons), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster)

Teams (7):Leinster 4, Scarlets 4, Blues 2, Ospreys 2, Ulster 1, Dragons 1, Glasgow 1

Head Coach Brian McLaughlin said: “The mood in the camp has been fantastic this week. We are back in training and the standard has been high as we prepare for Munster on Saturday. It is always a difficult place to go and Munster will put everything into winning the PRO12. It is another vital match for us.”

Going into the last round of fixtures, Ulster need to register a bonus point win and hope Glasgow and Scarlets pick up nothing from their games, if they are to reach the PRO12 play off for the second successive year. McLaughlin is fully aware that the chances of progression are slim:

“We have to be honest; it’s a long shot now with one game remaining. But we did a great job in Limerick a few weeks ago in the quarter final and we will approach the game with the same mindset. We have proved Ulster can do a job no matter where we play. We need to get a win and hope that other results are favourable so it’s not ideal.”

Chris Henry, who suffered an ankle injury against Leinster two weeks ago, is once again ruled out of contention for Saturday. With Johann Muller, Stephen Ferris and Ruan Pienaar picking up knocks in the Edinburgh clash, the Ulster coach says there could be some changes to his squad for Saturday.

“There’s no way Chris will be fit this weekend; he’s improving greatly but there is still a little bit to go. Quite a few of the others have plenty of bumps and bruises after a very physical game against Edinburgh. We are very happy with the injury list; it’s not as bad as it could be.The team will depend on how fit people are. We will continue to assess people and get the final injury report before selection. A number of players have played a lot of rugby this year so it’s important they are managed well,” concluded McLaughlin.

Following the confirmed departure of Esteban Lozada, the club has acted swiftly to bolster the boiler house with the capture of Perry-John Parker from English Championship side, Esher, and elite development player and Scotland under-20 cap Robert McAlpine, who will join the 2012 Heineken Cup semi-finalists until 2014.

Parker and McAlpine join six other new faces making their way to Murrayfield next season, including South African prop WP Nel; All Black back and former Junior World Player of the Year, Ben Atiga; and Welsh caps John Yapp (prop) and Richie Rees (scrum-half), while 19 of the club’s top performing players have extended contracts.

Head coach Michael Bradley, said: “It’s very exciting for Edinburgh Rugby to have secured two very promising young locks at crucial stages of their respective careers.

“While we’ll continue to refine the expansive, attacking play for which the club is famous, we’re keen to introduce a harder, more aggressive edge to our play, and believe this pair will work tirelessly to lay the platform from which our back division can play.

“Both players have real quality, are exceptionally committed, and will develop into top-class second-rows for Edinburgh Rugby.”

At 6’8” and 118kg, 24-year-old Parker is a fast, dynamic ball-carrying second-row, renowned for his pace, contact skills and deft touch in the lineout.

In his early 20s, he captained Haywards Heath before making a big impression with Esher in his debut championship season, before looking to progress his career at a higher level.

The big lock explained that when the call came, he jumped at the chance to pull on the black and red of Edinburgh Rugby.

He said: “I knew that the Edinburgh Rugby coaches had seen some of my tapes so I was delighted to get the chance to meet them and talk about the club’s achievements, ambitions and off-field culture.

“It’s a massive opportunity for me. To be in the mix with a club like Edinburgh Rugby is really exciting.

“The club’s quarter-final win over Toulouse was inspirational and I can’t wait to be part of that next season.”

McAlpine, the great-nephew of former Scotland caps Donald and Angus Cameron, is tipped as one of the most promising young locks in the Scottish game.

Aligned to city rivals Glasgow Warriors from the conclusion of the 2011 IRB Junior World Championships, McAlpine spent the second half of the season with Edinburgh Rugby, making two appearances against Ulster and Cardiff Blues.

The youngster’s commitment to the capital means that the club now boasts two of the leading young locks in the country, as McAlpine is reunited with former age-grade internationalist Grant Gilchrist, who extended his contract earlier this year.

Reflecting on his six months with the club, McAlpine said: “It’s been great, the players have been really welcoming. It’s been easy to fit in as I’ve played with so many of the younger players at the club during my time in the Scotland age-grades – it’s like a home from home.”

McAlpine revealed that witnessing the part played, and the improvements made, by some of the club’s youngsters was a key part of him signing for the club.

“Seeing what players like David Denton, Grant Gilchrist and Matt Scott have all achieved as EDP players at Edinburgh Rugby has been a massive inspiration,” added McAlpine.

“This summer will be my first full senior pre-season and I can’t wait to push on, build my fitness and physicality, put pressure on the other second-rows and see what progress I can make.

“I want to be part of club that’s going places and Edinburgh Rugby have proved that they’re really stepping up. They’ve competed at Europe’s top table this season – that’s where I want to be and that’s where I want to play my rugby.”

Edinburgh Rugby new arrivals:

• South African Free State Cheetahs prop, WP Nel
• All-Black centre/full-back and former Junior World Player of the Year, Ben Atiga
• Wales prop John Yapp (21 caps)
• Wales scrum-half Richie Rees (9 caps)
• Georgia number 8, Dimitri Basilaia (23 caps)
• Northampton Saints back Greig Tonks
• Esher lock Perry-John Parker
• EDP lock Robert McAlpine

Perry-John Parker (24), second-row
Date of birth: 25 June 1987 in Crawley
Height: 203cm (6’8”)
Weight: 118kg (18st 8lb)
Former clubs:
2011-12: Esher
2009-11 Haywards Heath, N3 (captain, 2010/11)
1999-2009: Worthing Raiders (Senior rugby, N2, aged 17 2004)
Honours
2009-11 – Sussex (captain 2010/2011)

Robert McAlpine (21), second-row
Date of birth: 26 March 1991 in Dundee
Height: 2.01m (6’7”)
Weight: 110kg (17st 3lb)
Former clubs/schools: Glasgow Academy, West of Scotland, Stirling County
Honours: Scotland U17, U18, U19, U20

Season tickets holders can bring a friend for free (using voucher C) to the club’s last match of the season against Italian side Treviso (kick-off 7.30pm), which will double as a send-off party for ten departing players.

Edinburgh Rugby fans can then complete a great weekend of rugby with half-price party stand tickets for day two of The Emirates Airline Glasgow 7s at Scotstoun Stadium this Sunday 6 May (details below).

Six months after retiring from the international scene, 109-times capped Chris Paterson will bring an end to one of the most famous playing careers in Scottish rugby history.

The full-back has spent more than ten years at the club, during which time he wrote his name into the history books of Edinburgh Rugby while breaking just about every record for his country.

The nation’s top points scorer and record male cap holder will take up a new non-playing role with Edinburgh Rugby and Scottish Rugby with further details announced next week.

Mike Blair, who confirmed his departure a fortnight ago, will be joined by long-standing servants Phil Godman and hooker Andrew Kelly, with the 23-times Scotland capped stand-off set to join Edinburgh Rugby’s 150 club with an appearance this Saturday.

The club will also bid farewell to popular flanker Alan MacDonald, who first joined the club as an apprentice in 2004 and went on to make 98 appearances for the club. He has been capped four times for Scotland, in the 2009 Autumn Tests and in the 2010 RBS 6 Nations.

Kelly’s front-row colleagues, Scotland-capped Kyle Traynor and Jack Gilding, ever-presents in this season’s landmark campaign, are also leaving the club, as are Argentine lock Esteban Lozada and full-back Jim Thompson.

The latter will miss the black and red farewell to represent Scotland in the Emirates Airline Glasgow 7s on the same day, with supporters able to cheer on Thompson on day two for half-price.

Edinburgh Rugby head coach, Michael Bradley, said: “Saturday will be a memorable match for a number of reasons; we’ll bring the curtain down on an incredible season, say farewell to these fine players and, at the final whistle, look to the future and begin preparations to capitalise on this landmark year.

“It’ll be an emotional day for fans and players alike, as they show their mutual appreciation for the role they’ve played for the club over the years.

“We’ve enjoyed an historic season in the Heineken Cup this year with a number of memorable matches here at Murrayfield. However our form in the RaboDirect PRO12 has been a constant frustration, so this Saturday will be about drawing a line under that element of our season and sending these guys off on a high.”

The club also confirmed that the short-term contract of prop Ulises Gamboa has come to an end.

The coach rested a number of players for last weekend’s trip to Cardiff and has reverted to a refreshed and readied version of the side that made history in front of a 38,000 crowd at Murrayfield earlier this month.

Lock Steven Turnbull’s bench replacement of Stuart McInally is the only change to the 23-man match-day squad.

The back-row has been unable to recover from the hamstring strain he sustained a fortnight ago against Leinster so Turnbull, who returned from an ankle injury last weekend, earns selection in the biggest match in the club’s history.

Edinburgh Rugby head coach, Michael Bradley, said:  “The size of the occasion and the backing from fans has not been lost on the players.

“They take great pride in representing Edinburgh Rugby and know how much it means to the supporters to be at this stage in the competition.

“Tomorrow’s match will be a huge test. The hype, the intensity, the crowd, and the fact that we’re away from home all have a bearing on the size of tomorrow’s challenge.

“On top of those elements are, of course, our opponents, Ulster. They are one of the in-form sides in Europe and will take great confidence from their two league wins over us already this season, on top of their away win over Munster in the quarter-final.

“Our form in this competition is such that we can rightly approach this match with a lot of confidence. The character and resolve of the players has been well tested in this competition and we have prevailed.

“It’s a one-off game and the underdog tag is one we wear well as a team. Edinburgh Rugby have shown that we are force to be reckoned with on big occasions and are relishing our first semi-final in this competition.”

Between four and five thousand Edinburgh Rugby fans are expected to make the trip to the Emerald Isle and form part of a near sell-out crowd at the country’s national stadium.

Official capital city fanzones have been set up in Edinburgh and Dublin as Heineken Cup fever grips the two nations locked in an all RaboDirect PRO12 semi-final.

The Ballsbridge and neighbouring Berkeley Court hotels will be taken over by black and red while, in Edinburgh, the Murrayfield Hotel and the Three Sisters venues will cater for families and young adult audiences respectively.

The winner tomorrow will face the victor of ASM Clermont Auvergne v Leinster at the Stade Chaban Delmas (Sunday 29 April, kick-off 4pm) in the Heineken Cup final at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday 19 May.

Edinburgh Rugby team to play Ulster in the Heineken Cup semi-final at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin (kick-off 5.45pm) – LIVE ON SKY SPORTS

15 Tom Brown

14 Lee Jones

13 Nick De Luca

12 Matt Scott

11 Tim Visser

10 Greig Laidlaw CAPTAIN

9 Mike Blair

1 Allan Jacobsen

2 Ross Ford

3 Geoff Cross

4 Sean Cox

5 Grant Gilchrist

6 David Denton

7 Ross Rennie

8 Netani Talei

Substitutes

16 Andrew Kelly

17 Kyle Traynor

18 Jack Gilding

19 Steven Turnbull

20 Roddy Grant

21 Chris Leck

22 Phil Godman

23 Jim Thompson

More than 4,000 of the club’s fans are expected to travel to Dublin to watch Edinburgh Rugby in Dublin this weekend as they play for a place in the Twickenham final next month.

To help fans show their support in the two capitals, the club has invested in designated fan-zones at the Ballsbridge and neighbouring Berkeley Court hotels, five minutes walk from the stadium in Dublin.

For supporters in Edinburgh, club partner G1 Group will welcome fans at the city’s Murrayfield Hotel and the Three Sisters venues, designed to cater for families and revellers respectively.

Edinburgh Rugby managing director, Craig Docherty, said: “Whether you’re travelling to Dublin to watch the game or staying at home to support us on the screen, both options, home and away, offer supporters the chance to get together with like-minded fans and enjoy this historic occasion.”

The away end – Dublin

The away fan-zone will kick-off at 12 noon on Saturday with extra bar facilities opened to cater exclusively for Edinburgh Rugby fans. Public bars are also open throughout the hotel as well as the ‘Heineken Green Space’ outside, with buffet stations and a barbeque catering for hungry travellers.

Club staff will arrive on the scene at approximately 2pm, with over a thousand free giveaways including branded flags, black and red scarves and Mohawk hats, to help fans make their present felt, while they’ll also be able to talk tactics with the non-playing Edinburgh Rugby players from 3pm-4pm.

After the big game, live music will re-start the proceedings at the Berkeley Court Hotel, with 10 screens around the hotel showing a replay of the match, half an hour after the final whistle at the Aviva Stadium.

The home end – Edinburgh

The Murrayfield Hotel, a familiar gathering spot for the club’s fans on away days, is the suggested choice for families, with a BBQ fired up and the match shown live, inside and out.

The black and red bunting is already up at the Three Sisters with the party crowd invited to watch the match on big screens in the club’s courtyard.

Pre-game entertainment, a tribal Scottish band and a DJ will help get the fans fired up to watch the match, where they can also enjoy a bite from the outdoor barbeque.

The 28-year-old arrives with a wealth of Super Rugby experience and provincial championship success, as part of an all-star Auckland Blues side from 2004 to 2008, where he kept the company of fellow All Blacks Joe Rokocoko, Keven Mealamu, Luke McAllister and Ma’a Nonu, as well as popular Irish imports Isa Nacewa (Leinster) and Doug Howlett (Munster) – in a spell which also saw the province lift the Air New Zealand Cup three times (2003, 2005 and 2007).

A New Zealand age-grade prodigy, Atiga’s trophy-littered career kicked off when he left Auckland Grammar School in 2003, when he lifted the IRB’s Junior World Championship trophy on his second and third outings in the tournament, reaching the semi-final in 2002, picking up the Junior World Player of the Year award in 2003 and captaining the side to glory in 2004.

It was between these age-grade triumphs that he earned his single New Zealand cap, as an injury replacement in the nation’s 2003 Rugby World Cup campaign, and for his part of the side’s ruthless pool stage destruction of Tonga (91-7).  

His international honours were followed by his four-year tenure at the Auckland Blues before pulling on the famous black jersey once again, this time at Twickenham for Gordon Tietjens’ HSBC Sevens World Series winning New Zealand side of 2007.
With 2012/13 season tickets set to go on sale this week, Atiga’s arrival, which is subject to visa, is the latest to be welcomed by Edinburgh Rugby fans, who’ll cheer on at least six new recruits next season, with Scots qualified Nothampton Saints back Greig Tonks (back/centre), Welsh internationalists John Yapp (prop) and Richie Rees (scrum-half), Georgian Rugby World Cup number 8, Dimitri Basilaia; and Super Rugby prop WP Nel already secured, while 19 of the club’s top performers have recently extended their contracts at the capital club.
Edinburgh Rugby head coach, Michael Bradley, said: “Ben [Atiga] has proven his ability on some of the toughest stages in world rugby and will be a formidable option at centre and full-back for Edinburgh Rugby for at least the next two seasons.
“He’s a very impressive package of agility, power and skill, accommodating 100 kilograms of muscle into a 5’10” frame, and I believe he’ll make a big impact at this club, both from a performance perspective but also in bringing on the many talented young players we have at the club.
“This season Edinburgh Rugby made history by reaching the Heineken Cup semi-final for the first time but we’re not finished yet. We want to be challenging for honours in all competitions and believe we are making the right appointments in the right places to mount that kind of campaign in the seasons ahead.”

Having lived the high-performance lifestyle from his school days, Atiga opted to take a season out of the sport in 2009, but returned refreshed as part of Auckland’s ITM Cup semi-final side the following season before being recruited by Otago.
Subsequently he earned selection for the Highlanders, marking his return to Super Rugby and playing a crucial role in ending a 30-year drought for the south islanders at Eden Park against his former province, Auckland, a record which he had spent his formative years battling to protect.

When the Otagu Union was hit by financial crisis in 2011, Atiga opted to take voluntary redundancy and seek out a new challenge, at which point the call came from Edinburgh Rugby.
In addition to the well-documented affiliation between Scotland and New Zealand, the Kiwi explained his fondness for his new home was harboured in three separate tours to the country, making the decision to join an easy one.
“It all happened very fast, probably in the space of about three weeks,” explained Atiga.
“The club were very interested in what I could bring to the table from a playing perspective but Michael [Bradley] also explained that he would be looking for me to play a leadership role and help bring on young Scottish players, a role which I’ve played with New Zealanders for the last couple of seasons and one which I’m looking forward to doing for Edinburgh Rugby.
“I toured Scotland with my school in 2000, with New Zealand Schools in 2001 and was based in Edinburgh with the New Zealand U20 side in 2004, when the Junior World Championships were in Glasgow, so it’s reassuring to have experienced my new home through rugby already.
“Playing rugby overseas has always been something that’s appealed to me. I’ve had loads of calls from fellow players at home and abroad telling me how beautiful the city is and how lucky I am to get this opportunity.
“I’m delighted to have signed and now just looking forward to getting on the pitch for my new club and doing my best for Edinburgh Rugby.”
Ben Atiga (28)
Born: 5 May, 1983 in Auckland, New Zealand.
Height: 1.80m (5’10”), weight: 100kg (15st 10lb)
Provincial debut: Auckland v North Harbour (2002)
Super Rugby debut: Blues v Chiefs (2004)
International honours: New Zealand U19, U20, All Blacks (1 cap, v Tonga in 2003)  
Super Rugby caps: 46
Super Rugby points: 75 (6 tries, 6 conversions, 11 penalties)

The capital clubs made the last four with home wins over Cardiff Blues and Toulouse in Dublin and Edinburgh respectively and now head into two rounds of RaboDirect PRO12 rugby, before returning to the penultimate round of Europe’s top tier cup competition.

Coincidentally the Dubliners follow tomorrow’s match with a trip to Belfast, where they will face Edinburgh’s European semi-final opponents, Ulster, while Edinburgh head for Cardiff, completing a mini-series of top-class European rugby, in which the clubs will seek to retain their winning momentum.

Edinburgh will look to do so in the back yard of a side 11-points clear at the top of the PRO12 and just one win away from securing a coveted home play-off spot.

Speaking at today’s team announcement press conference, head coach Michael Bradley, said: “We face a very tough task in Dublin this weekend against a side who comfortably made the semi-finals for the fourth successive season.

“As league leaders and European pace-setters they will be keen make big statements between now and the continuation of their European title defence.

“What pleases me is that we go into the match off the back of two wins over quality opposition, Scarlets and Toulouse, from which we can take a lot of confidence.

“As a team we must acknowledge the effort and commitment required on those days and prepare appropriately for another significant challenge this weekend at the RDS.”

Bradley has made just one personnel change to the squad that toppled Toulouse, but has sought to refresh the front-line with five changes to the first fifteen.

Scrum-half Chris Leck is the only change to the back division, continuing where he left off in the Toulouse game, having replaced the injured Mike Blair (shoulder) at the interval.

Kyle Traynor replaces the injured Allan Jacobsen (face) at loose-head prop, with Esteban Lozada reintroduced to the squad to start alongside Sean Cox in the second-row.

Finally, the club’s healthy back-row options are rotated as Stuart McInally and Roddy Grant swap places with David Denton and Ross Rennie respectively.

Edinburgh Rugby team to play Leinster at the RDS tomorrow in the RaboDirect PRO12 (Friday 13 April, kick-off 7.45pm)

15 Tom Brown

14 Lee Jones
13 Nick De Luca
12 Matt Scott
11 Tim Visser

10 Greig Laidlaw CAPTAIN
9 Chris Leck

1 Kyle Traynor
2 Ross Ford
3 Geoff Cross
4 Esteban Lozada
5 Sean Cox
6 Stuart McInally
7 Roddy Grant
8 Netani Talei

Substitutes
16 Andrew Kelly
17 Robin Hislop
18 Jack Gilding
19 Grant Gilchrist
20 David Denton
21 Ross Rennie
22 Phil Godman
23 Jim Thompson

Not available through injury: Mike Blair (shoulder), Ben Cairns (knee), Allan Jacobsen (face), James King (groin), Steven Lawrie (knee)

Jamie Heaslip captains the team and the Naas man is one of three survivors in the starting XV from last weekend’s Heineken Cup quarter final for the visit of the Scottish side. In all there are eight Ireland internationals in the line-up with Heaslip joined in the back-row by Shane Jennings and Rhys Ruddock.

Damian Browne makes his 20th appearance of the season and partners Devin Toner at lock, with Sean Cronin joining Heinke van der Merwe and Nathan White in the front row after the trio featured in the 34-3 victory over the Cardiff Blues last weekend.

Isaac Boss partners Ian Madigan (who is second in the PRO12’s try-scoring list this season with 7 in 17 games so far) at half back. The Blackrock College out-half is in line to make his 45th Leinster appearance with Fergus McFadden lining up in the midfield alongside Gordon D’Arcy.

Fionn Carr (making his 18th appearance of the season), right winger David Kearney and Isa Nacewa complete the line-up.

Kevin McLaughlin, Eoin Reddan and Richardt Strauss are named amongst a replacements bench which sees a blend of youth and experience including 22-year-old Lansdowne prop Martin Moore who could make his debut for the province whom he previously captained at Under-20 level.

Over 15,600 tickets have been sold for Friday’s game which will incorporate the specially themed ‘Leinster Rugby Spring Fling’ is also due to take place with: a bumper family day including a giant inflatable slide, bouncing castle, ropes course and climbing wall, a fairground including old style bumper cars, carnival games and a carousel, a treasure hunt around the RDS featuring Leo the Lion (starts at 6.45pm from the Leinster Rugby Store) and a display of acrobatic bike riders in the “pocket” area behind the South Stand.

Tickets are on sale now for €10 for juniors, €20 for adults and €50 for a family of four, online from www.leinsterrugby.ie, from Ticketmaster outlets nationwide and a limited selection from the Leinster Rugby Store and Spar Donnybrook (excludes family tickets).

LEINSTER:

15: Isa Nacewa
14: David Kearney
13: Fergus McFadden
12: Gordon D’Arcy
11: Fionn Carr
10: Ian Madigan
9: Isaac Boss

1: Heinke van der Merwe
2: Sean Cronin
3: Nathan White
4: Damian Browne
5: Devin Toner
6: Rhys Ruddock
7: Shane Jennings
8: Jamie Heaslip CAPTAIN

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Richardt Strauss
17: Jack McGrath
18: Martin Moore
19: Kevin McLaughlin
20: Leo Auva’a
21: Eoin Reddan
22: Noel Reid
23: Brendan Macken

REFEREE: Peter Fitzgibbon (IRFU) , ASSISTANT REFEREES: David Wilkinson, Simon McDowell (both IRFU), 4th OFFICIAL: Gary Glennon (Leinster Rugby Referees), 5th OFFICIAL: Robbie O’Flynn (Leinster Rugby Referees), TMO: Alan Rogan (IRFU)