Thursday 3 April 2014 10:28, UK
Edinburgh have confirmed fly-half Harry Leonard will join Leeds at the end of the season and that two further stand-offs will leave the club.
Former Scotland U20 captain Leonard is joining the Greene King IPA Championship side in a bid for regular rugby while Gregor Hunter and Piers Francis will leave after injury-hit seasons.
"It will be a good opportunity for me to get more consistent game time," said Leonard. "The ambition and aspirations that Leeds has going forward impressed me as well as the great facilities available to train and play in.
"Hopefully things will go well for the rest of the season and we can get into the Premiership but if not, I am looking forward to the chance to help the team get up next season. It is a young team and I am looking forward to being part of that."
Leonard has started 25 games for Edinburgh and been used as a replacement 12 times but head coach Alan Solomans feels the player's decision to pursue first-team rugby is the right one.
"This is the right decision for Harry at this stage in his career, where he will be guaranteed to start at stand-off," said Solomans, who signed South African fly-half Carl Bezuidenhout on an extended trial basis at the turn of the year.
"He has made a good career decision which will, I believe, stand him in good stead in the future."
Hunter made 16 appearances but a knee injury has ruled him out for the whole season while Francis has only recently returned to training following a pre-season foot injury.
Solomons said: "It's been a tough year for Gregor and Piers. They're both great blokes but unfortunately got injured early in the season and have been unable to play during my time at this club."
