IT IS now four years since Ewan Ashman spent a brief spell on loan at Edinburgh, but the Scotland hooker revealed yesterday that his positive experience back then was one of the reasons he has agreed to move to the capital club in the summer on a four-year deal.
Now 23, Ashman was also on loan at Glasgow for a short time, but otherwise has spent all of his professional career with Sale Sharks, the club he will leave at the end of the season.
“I loved my short stint at the club when I was younger,” he said on the Edinburgh website. “It’s a great group of boys and some of my best mates I played with at age-grade are now at the core of the squad, which definitely played a factor in my decision to move.
“The ethos and energy around the club was also a big factor, as I improved a lot during my time in Edinburgh. My spell in 2019 seems a long time ago now. I’m obviously a lot more experienced having run out over 50 times with Sale Sharks in the Premiership and Europe – I’m definitely a smarter player for that.
“But at heart I’m definitely still the same player. I want to enjoy my rugby, impose myself through physicality and enjoy myself on the pitch.”
Ashman, who made his Test debut against Australia in 2021 and now has seven caps, was born in Toronto. However, he qualifies for Scotland as his father was born in Edinburgh – and he cited that family connection as another reason he was pleased to be joining his new team.
“I’m buzzing to be joining Edinburgh – it’s a team I’ve always supported,” he added. “As a city, Edinburgh has always felt like home. It’s where my family is from and I can’t wait to move back there.”
Edinburgh coach Mike Blair said: “Ewan is a top prospect and a player that Edinburgh Rugby supporters should be hugely excited about. It’s brilliant that the club has secured his signing on a long-term deal. He will be a top player for both Edinburgh and Scotland in the seasons to come.”
Ashman is the second Scotland internationalist to sign for Edinburgh this week, after scrum-half Scott Steele joined from Harlequins. There is a lot of competition for the No.2 jersey, but his dynamic ball-playing ability looks set to make him the team’s first choice before too long.
