Penn signs with Edinburgh
Edinburgh have signed talented 22-year-old Worcester Warriors outside back Mike Penn on a one-year contract.
Penn is a product of the Warriors’ academy and moves north to link up with the club’s former defence coach, Billy McGinty, who joined Edinburgh last year after six years at Sixways.
His arrival boosts Edinburgh’s back-three resources, which include impressive fullback Tom Brown, wings Lee Jones and try-machine Tim Visser, the latter available for Scotland selection this summer.
Edinburgh 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,” he added.
Penn checked into Murrayfield 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,” he added.
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 (scrumhalf), while 19 of the club’s top performing players have also extended contracts.
