SCOTLAND under-20 star Rory Darge has signed his first professional contract with Edinburgh Rugby.

The North Berwick starlet will be joined at the Capital club by Connor Boyle and Sam Grahamslaw, subject to a medical.

Back row pairing Boyle and Darge both graduate from the FOSROC Scottish Rugby Academy and pen their first professional deals with the Capital club, while prop Grahamslaw also joins from the Academy system and signs a professional contract, having originally come through the ranks at Leicester Tigers.

Boyle and Darge, both 20, skippered Scotland under-20s during the 2019 and 2020 U20 Six Nations campaigns respectively, while Grahamslaw, 21, is now back fully fit after suffering a season-ending injury during the 2019 U20 Six Nations campaign.

All three signings were secured prior to lockdown coming into effect in March.

On signing the age-grade trio, Richard Cockerill, head coach of Edinburgh Rugby, said: “We’re really excited to work with all three players and it’s just reward for their hard work and effort that they now pen pro deals with the club.

“We know Rory and Connor extremely well having seen them progress through the age-grade system and now at Super6 level.

“They are two back-rows with differing styles, but they both have a huge amount of potential to go far in this game.

“Sam is obviously a player that Scottish Rugby identified while he was at Leicester Tigers and he’s a prop with great physicality and ability in the loose.

“It was great to see him back fit for Watsonians earlier this season.

“All three players have impressed at Super6 level and we’re looking forward to seeing them make the step-up this coming season.”

Current Scotland U20 skipper Darge – who can play across the back-row – came through the ranks at North Berwick RFC and follows in the footsteps of fellow East Lothian players Chris Dean and Lewis Carmichael in joining the club.

As a FOSROC Scottish Rugby Academy player, Darge, whose younger brother Arron plays football for Hearts, saw game time at Melrose before joining the newly formed Super6 side Southern Knights.

The back-row made his Scotland U20 debut at just 17 years old, before celebrating his 18th birthday with a win over England U20 at Myreside in March 2018.

Although Darge missed the near-entirety of 2019 through injury, he was back to his best in 2020 as head coach Sean Lineen named him Scotland U20 captain.

On putting pen to paper with Edinburgh, Darge, said: “I’m delighted to sign my first professional contract with Edinburgh Rugby.

“Edinburgh is a club that works hard and I’ve been lucky enough to come in and train with the first XV squad this season, which stands me in good stead for transitioning into my first professional contract.

“It’s an exciting time to join Edinburgh.

“I hope to get my chance to represent the club and take those opportunities by playing well.”

Iain Dove, president of North Berwick RFC, was delighted for Darge in making the step up.

He becomes the latest in an increasingly long line of players from North Berwick to progress in rugby, alongside Lewis Carmichael, Chris Dean, Ben Muncaster and Roan Frostwick in the Capital squad.

Dove felt it was down to a combination of a number of factors, including the club’s minis programme, which instils a love of the game from a young age, and, of course, the desire of the individual.

He said: “Obviously, we are delighted in these difficult times to get some good news.

“Our best wishes go out to Rory.

“He has worked very hard to get to this stage and he was one that was tipped for the future.

“We are delighted he has managed to deliver that and look forward to seeing him on the pitch.”