Edinburgh Rugby sign stand-off Jono Lance

Australian will join the club from Worcester Warriors next season

Jono Lance in action for Worcester Warriors. He is joining Edinburgh next season.

Edinburgh Rugby have signed Australian stand-off Jono Lance from Worcester Warriors.

The 29-year-old is a double Super Rugby winner, helping both Queensland Reds and New South Wales Waratahs triumph in the elite Southern Hemisphere competition.

Lance, who will join Edinburgh next season, can also play at full-back.

He said: “To get the chance to come to a club that has become one of the strongest in the Guinness Pro14 and to hopefully play Champions Cup rugby was an opportunity I couldn’t refuse.

“The style of rugby Edinburgh have been playing is something that excites me and to have coaches who feel that you can be a big part of developing that brand of rugby was something I wanted to be a massive part of.

“My partner and I did a big drive through Scotland as a holiday and loved all of it. And Edinburgh is one of the greatest cities in the world, so to have the chance to play rugby there really is amazing.

“After chatting to some players and meeting the coaches to hear their vision for the club in the near future and long term, it’s clear that there are exciting times ahead for Edinburgh Rugby.”

Lance moved to the UK to join Worcester in 2017 and made 30 appearances, scoring 82 points.

Edinburgh coach Richard Cockerill said: “Jono is a very experienced playmaker that fits the mould of both the type of rugby player and person that we want at this club.

“He’s a good character that works hard for his teammates and we believe that his skillset is well suited to the style of rugby we want to implement at Edinburgh.

“We’re delighted with the signing and look forward to working with Jono next season.”

Born in Canberra, Lance made his Super Rugby debut for the Reds in 2011, a season in which the Queensland club claimed their first-ever Super Rugby title.

Playing alongside Australian internationals Quade Cooper, Will Genia and Digby Ioane, the stand-off made 21 appearances in three seasons at Suncorp Stadium before joining the Waratahs in 2014.

Lance tasted instant success once again with his new club as the Waratahs beat the Crusaders 33-32 in a pulsating Super Rugby final to claim their first-ever Championship.

Following the axing of the Western Force - whom the stand-off joined in 2016 - from the Super Rugby competition, Lance signed for Worcester Warriors.