AN UP-AND-COMING rugby star is returning north of the border after signing with Edinburgh Rugby.

Ben Muncaster, from North Berwick, was one of three signings completed by the capital side last Friday.

The back-row moves from Leicester Tigers, where he spent four years as part of the Premiership side’s academy.

The 18-year-old said: “I’m extremely excited to be joining this club.

“I grew up in North Berwick and have always loved Edinburgh as a city, so to be joining the professional rugby team is a dream come true.”

And he added: “Edinburgh are obviously a very strong team with a great culture.

“They have some exceptional players that I have looked up to for many years.

“I’ll hopefully try and learn from them as much as I can, certainly in the back row.

“It is such an honour to have been given an opportunity like this, I am very grateful for it, and I want to make the absolute most of it.”

The teenager, who attended Loretto School, Musselburgh, joins Edinburgh alongside fellow Scotland age-grade players Nathan Chamberlain, who moves from Bristol Bears, and Dan Gamble, who has signed from Heriot’s Rugby.

Richard Cockerill, head coach at Edinburgh Rugby, was pleased to sign the trio.

He said: “It’s hugely important that we continue to develop and nurture young Scottish talent, so it’s brilliant that we’ve been able to sign three very impressive age-grade players.

“Ben has come through the ranks at Leicester and has consistently improved his game year after year.

“He will only get better being involved and training with a talented back-row group here at Edinburgh.”

Muncaster has previously represented Scotland during the under-18s Six Nations.

Previously speaking to the Leicester Tigers website, he said: “I lived near my local club when I was a kid and so it’s no surprise I started playing when I was about four or five.

“My dad enjoys watching but never really played – I joined my local rugby club and loved every minute of it.”