Edinburgh rope in Titterrell

Helping hand: Andy Titterrell

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Edinburgh have signed 31-year-old former British and Irish Lions hooker Andy Titterrell on a one-year deal.

Capped five times for England, the former Leeds skipper has been brought in as cover for injured hooker Steven Lawrie, who has been sidelined with a knee injury since December.

Lawrie, who signed a two-year contract extension with the club last month, is expected to be absent at the start of the season, with head coach Michael Bradley bringing in the 2006 Aviva Premiership winner (with Sale) to restore the club’s depth in the position.

Titterrell will compete with Scotland captain Ross Ford and young prospect Alun Walker, who recently graduated from the club’s elite development player programme.

“We’re very happy to have secured the services of such an experienced campaigner,” said Bradley.

“Andy [Titterall] has competed at the highest level for club and country and will offer an exciting option at number two to Ross Ford while we continue to bring on young Alun Walker.”

Titterrell worked with Edinburgh forwards’ coach Neil Back at Leeds, and played at Saracens and Gloucester before moving to Leeds where made 40 appearances in two-and-a-half years.

His final season included a loan spell back at Sale Sharks, before he requested to end his term at Leeds a season early to pursue a return to the top tier of northern hemisphere rugby.