Moving on: Piers Francis

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• Chiefs
• Edinburgh

Edinburgh have revealed the signing of 22-year-old Chiefs fly-half Piers Francis, who joins the Murrayfield outfit on a two-year contract.

Born in Gravesend, England, Francis spent three years in the development academy of Saracens, before going to New Zealand aged 18 to fulfil his ambitions of playing top-flight rugby.

After a season with the Auckland Marists he progressed into the provincial Auckland Academy where he was named young player of the year in an unbeaten season for the provincial U20 side.

He then made seven ITM Cup appearances for the Auckland province in 2011 before signing for the Super Rugby winners at the turn of the year.

A groin injury and fierce competition for places disrupted his chances of Super Rugby action in a Chiefs side that featured World Cup winning All Black duo Aaron Cruden and Sonny-Bill Williams in his favoured positions of 10 and 12.

However, fitness and opportunity allowed him to come back to the fore in the end of season ITM Cup where he lifted the historic Ranfurly Shield with the Waikato province in October.

"We're very pleased to secure the services of Piers Francis, as his introduction will strengthen and increase the competiveness of our squad across a number of positions," head coach, Michael Bradley told edinburghrugby.org.

"He's a very talented individual, who is quick, skilful, and has a fantastic eye for breaking the line. He's a very good fit for Edinburgh Rugby."

With the 2012 southern hemisphere season now at an end, Francis arrives in Scotland on Wednesday and will begin full training immediately.

"Coming from the UK, I was very excited by an approach from Edinburgh Rugby and it moved very quickly from there," he said.

"It's a new challenge in two great competitions [RaboDirect PRO12 and Heineken Cup], where I can test myself and integrate some of the southern hemisphere ways in my game into a club that's packed with internationalists.

"I believe I have the skills and the attitude to enjoy success with Edinburgh Rugby and see this as another great opportunity for me to develop my game even further as part of a very professional set-up alongside great players and great coaches."

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