Matt Scott to quit Edinburgh for Gloucester

Scotland centre Matt Scott is leaving Edinburgh at the end of the season to join Gloucester.

Edinburgh centre Matt Scott will leave at the end of the season. Picture: Bill Murray/SNS/SRU

Scott, 25, described it as “the most difficult decision” he has ever had to make.

He has spent his entire professional career with the capital club, who he joined as an Academy player in 2011 after starting out at Currie.

He has pledged to give his all to Edinburgh for the remainder of the season before moving to the Aviva Premiership.

Scott said: “It’s the most difficult decision I’ve ever had to make. Rugby’s a short career and I’d always promised myself that at some point I’d like to play somewhere else, not just to develop me as a player but as a person, and I felt this was too good an opportunity to pass up.”

Scott helped Edinburgh reach the semi-finals of the Heineken Cup and he went on to make his international debut in 2012.

More recently, he was part of the side which defeated Glasgow Warriors over two legs to retain the 1872 Cup.

He added: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every minute of my time at Edinburgh. The last couple of years have been fantastic, especially this year when we won both games in the 1872 Scottish Cup.

“The guys at the moment are such a tight-knit group it’s going to be extremely difficult to leave them but that’s the main thing about rugby, the lifelong friends you make.

“I’m 100 per cent committed to the club for the rest of the season. I’d love to finish high up the league with Edinburgh – that would be a great way to end my time here.”

Scott overcame a persistent shoulder problem to play a key role for Scotland at last year’s Rugby World Cup, helping Vern Cotter’s side reach the quarter-finals.

Edinburgh Rugby head coach Alan Solomons said: “We are really sorry that Matt will be leaving the club at the end of the season. He is a top-class player and a really good bloke and leader who has made an invaluable contribution to the club both on and off the field.

“He will be sorely missed by all and we wish him well in this next stage of his career.”