Edinburgh supremo David Davies snapped up two top Southern Hemisphere stars then insisted his summer spending spree isn’t over yet.
Aussie-born Ollie Atkins and Kiwi-born Grayson Hart, who both qualify for Scotland through bloodline, are set to be a crucial part of the capital side’s revival quest in the wake of last season’s disastrous Heineken Cup and Pro12 campaigns.
And MD chief Davies stressed he is ready to splash more cash to give new head coach Alan Solomons a power-packed squad.
Davies also assured fans the attitude and fitness level of their heroes will show an improvement when hostilities resume next month.
He declared: “The recruitment of these guys signals our intent to bring on board young and athletic performers and others of similar ilk will be coming here within the next few weeks, which will certainly broaden the player base.
“These two have been signed for Edinburgh rather than Scotland. However, the challenge is there for them to show they are good enough to take the step up.
“There is also a challenge for our new coaches to come to terms with the squad. I see the process as having a two to three-year horizon.”
Admitting there had been attitude problems last season, Davies added: “We have got the chemistry right over the pre-season. We have set down physical standards: there there have been personal bests in both the gym and on the field.”
Lock Atkins, who was in the NSW Waratahs line-up that faced the Lions in Sydney in June, is no stranger to the capital, having played with Edinburgh Accies during a gap year,
Scrum-half Hart, who has also been with the Waratahs, appeared for New Zealand at age-group level and was an under-20 cap alongside Lions and Scotland ace Sean Maitland.
His uncle, John Hart, is a former All Blacks coach.