Northam by north west

The 23-year-old Australian-born speedster – his time for 100m is 10.69s – who is already playing in the Northern Hemisphere, arrives from west coast French club La Rochelle, where he has been on loan in recent months from Sydney outfit North Harbour Rays. 

"I'm looking forward to joining the club and especially keen to work with Alan. We've talked about developing my game and he feels he can really help me," said Northam.

"The boys here have told me the club's moving in the right direction and they've got a good team atmosphere.

"What am I looking to add to the mix? I'm hoping to bring my speed and pace to the game, to execute and finish on some of the backline plays."

The former Australian under-20 international, widely regarded as a superb finisher with blistering pace, joins the capital club on the back of five outings for the Top 14 club, including three European fixtures.

Prior to starting the season with the Rays, for whom he touched down on three occasions, Northam spent two seasons with Manly, racking up a total of 21 tries.

Nicknamed Road Runner by a Manly teammate, he enjoyed a spell in the Australian Sevens programme, including an outing at the 2014 Singapore Sevens playing for the Penguins invitational side. Prior to that, in 2011, he was a bronze medal winner in the Commonwealth Youth Games in the Isle of Man with Australia Sevens.

"I played soccer until I was about 10 and all my friends changed to play rugby so I went with them, discovered I wasn't too bad at it and I stuck with it," he said

As an Australia Under-20 international in 2013 he was in the side edged by Ireland U20 at the Junior World Cup – Northam bagged a converted try while one of Ireland's scores came from a young Rory Scholes, also signed to Edinburgh for next season.

Moving to France in September 2015 as injury cover, Northam discovered there were more differences between life in the hemispheres than just the weather.

"The game wasn't as fast as in Australia but it's a lot more physical. The boys are definitely a lot bigger and the coaching was quite different. The language barrier was a challenge, so it's good that in Scotland we speak the same language!." 

Head coach Alan Solomons said: "Alex is a welcome addition to the club.

"He is a young wing with exceptional pace, who has played for Australia at U20 level and has, this past season, gained valuable experience in the Top 14.

"I believe he will add a vital edge to our attack and look forward to having him with us next season."