Grant Gilchrist has signed up for a 16th consecutive season at Edinburgh, with head coach Sean Everitt praising the Scotland lock as one the club's "greatest-ever players".

The 35-year-old - second behind Allan Jacobsen in Edinburgh's all-time appearance list - played his 231st game for the URC outfit last weekend and has started 11 matches this season.

He also remains a key part of the Scotland squad, becoming the country's most-capped lock during this year's Six Nations when he made his 88th international appearance.

Gilchrist, whose new deal runs through to the 2027 Rugby World Cup, says it was a "no-brainer" to continue his Edinburgh career.

"This club is everything to me - it always has been," he added.

"I've never wanted to play anywhere else. As long as I feel I can compete at the highest level and give everything I've got for Edinburgh, I'll keep going. The day I can't do that is the day I'll walk away - but that day hasn't come yet.

"I still feel in a great place physically and I'm really motivated going into next season."

Everitt added: "Grant is one of Edinburgh's greatest ever players – I don't think there's any argument about that.

"But what makes him special is that he makes it easy to say that week in, week out, because he never gives you a reason to think otherwise.

"It's still a genuine pleasure to coach him every single week. His leadership is so vital to everything we do – on the pitch, in the changing room, around the whole squad. He sets a standard and the players around him rise to it."