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Page last updated at 17:48 GMT, Thursday, 20 May 2010 18:48 UK

Glasgow Warriors sign Edinburgh prop Ryan Grant

Ryan Grant
Grant has spent three years with Edinburgh

Scotland A prop Ryan Grant's move from Edinburgh to Magners League rivals Glasgow has been confirmed as part of three signings announced by Warriors.

Scrum-half Henry Pyrgos, 20, arrives from Loughborough University, while lock Robert Harley, 19, steps up from Scotland's National Academy.

Warriors coach Sean Lineen said: "The way Ryan plays really suits Glasgow and he'll certainly get game-time here.

"He'll add quality to the front-row, which is a crucial area for us."

Grant, who has signed a two-year deal along with Scotland Under-20 caps Harley and Pyrgos, has made only 14 appearances in three years with Edinburgh having previously gained experience with Border Reivers.

"He's a big lad, but he's also very mobile," Lineen said of the 24-year-old named this week in his Scotland A squad for the IRB Nations Cup in Romania.

Edinburgh head coach Rob Moffat thought that Grant would have a greater opportunity to play regularly with Glasgow.

The excitement of the Magners League play-offs gave everyone a real lift

Glasgow Warriors chief executive Kenny Baillie

"Due to injury and the very good form of both Allan Jacobsen and Kyle Traynor at loose-head, Ryan has had little opportunity for us," he said.

The departure from Glasgow of second-row stalwarts Dan Turner, who is heading for Japan, and Ulster-bound Tim Barker has opened up vacancies at lock and Lineen is excited by Harley's arrival.

"Rob has been outstanding for the Under-20s," said the coach. "He's really driven, you can see the hunger in his eyes and he will push the locks that are already there now.

"He's not coming in to develop, he's ready to play now, and will give us the competition we need at lock."

Glasgow hope Pyrgos will add depth to their options at scrum-half.

"He's a clever nine and has a good break on him," said Lineen, who had received good reports about the player from Glasgow's defence coach.

"Gary Mercer worked with him with the Under-20s and was really impressed.

"We had him up here a few months ago and we liked how he interacted with the squad. He fits the criteria for what we look for in a Warrior."

Glasgow chief executive Kenny Baillie believes the trio have signed at a time when the club is growing both on and off the pitch.

"The excitement of the Magners League play-offs gave everyone a real lift and, with the move to our new training and medical centre at Scotstoun Stadium just a few days away, all three lads will benefit enormously training alongside some world class players in first class facilities," he said.

Meanwhile, Scotland stand-off Dan Parks, who is moving to Cardiff Blues this summer, has been named as Warriors' players' player of the year.

The 31-year-old had also been voted player of the season by the Scottish Rugby Writers' Club.

Hefin O'Hare won Glasgow's try of the season award, while Jon Welsh was named breakthrough player of the year.



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