Edinburgh: Prop Grant Shiells switches from Bath

Grant Shiells joined Aviva Premiership club Bath during the summer

Grant Shiells is relishing the prospect of playing for Edinburgh - the team he supported as a boy - after failing to make the breakthrough at Bath.

The Melrose-born 25-year-old loosehead prop has been released only six months after switching from Aviva Premiership rivals Newcastle Falcons.

That has allowed him to sign a 19-month contract with the Pro12 outfit.

"Edinburgh was the team that I grew up supporting, so I'm looking forward to joining the squad," said Shiells.

Shiells, who has represented Scotland at under-19, under-20 and A levels, spent five seasons with Newcastle after signing from Kelso in the summer of 2009.

He made his first-team breakthrough in his first season with Falcons and went on to play in 53 league games.

But, with Bath sitting fourth in the English top flight, his game time had been limited since his summer switch.

Shiells, who studied at Edinburgh's Napier University, represented Scotland at age-group level and played for Scotland A in 2013 after being invited to train with the national squad ahead of the 2012 autumn Test against New Zealand.

Asked what he can bring to the Edinburgh squad, he told his club website: "Hopefully that'll be in the shape of my scrummaging.

"I'm just looking forward to getting stuck in about, really."