Edinburgh's Tim Visser will soon qualify for Scotland on residential grounds © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Tim Visser

Tournaments/Tours: RaboDirect PRO12

Teams: Edinburgh | Scotland

Edinburgh winger Tim Visser has signed a new three-year deal with the PRO12 club that will see him remain in the Scottish capital until at least 2015.

The Dutch-born 24-year-old, who will qualify for Scotland later this year on residential grounds, was already committed to staying on until 2013 under his previous deal but the club have moved to secure the long-term future of one of the most prolific scorers in northern hemisphere rugby. The news follows last week's announcement that South African prop WP Nel has signed from Super Rugby side the Cheetahs for the same period.

"Tim [Visser] is very much at home in Edinburgh and I'm sure that today's announcement will make us the envy of many clubs in Europe," said head coach Michael Bradley. "His consistency is what sets him apart. Year after year he has surpassed his own remarkable achievements and that desire, passion and ability is exactly what we look for in all of our players.

"This is a very exciting time for Edinburgh Rugby. Not only are we preparing to be the first Scottish club to host a quarter-final in the Heineken Cup, we are working exceptionally hard behind the scenes to ensure we have the right players in place so we can continue to break new ground and celebrate even greater successes in the years ahead."

Visser's try-scoring feats have made him a hit with supporters since he arrived from Newcastle Falcons in 2009, topping the RaboDirect PRO12 scoring charts in his first two years and breaking the record for the most scores in a single season last year with 14 touchdowns.

This season it's been business as usual for the 6'4", 17 stone fans' favourite, whose ten league tries puts him four clear at the top of the charts in the current PRO12 campaign with seven regular rounds remaining to topple his record. His four tries from the six pool rounds of the club's historic Heineken Cup campaign means he has the added opportunity to expand his impressive try tally of 40 scores in 66 appearances in the quarter-final against Toulouse at Murrayfield on April 7.

Visser said: "I've loved my time at Edinburgh Rugby, I feel right at home in the city and have had three great years of playing the rugby of my life. I couldn't do any of that without the support of the coaching, strength and conditioning staff and fellow players who have transformed me as a rugby player since I arrived, both physically and mentally. I'm delighted to have secured this extension which will now allow me to focus on improving my game for another three years at a club on the up."

While his previous deal would have seen him complete the residency qualification for international honours, Visser was explicit in his reasoning for committing his future to the Murrayfield club.

"There's been a lot of talk, particularly among Edinburgh fans, about my qualification for Scotland," he added. "It would be an absolute honour to represent Scotland, a country whose fans have adopted me into their rugby family and made me the player I am today.

"However, like all players, my focus at is on performing for my club. If my performances merit selection for the national team then it would be a very proud moment indeed and I would do everything in my power to repay the support shown to me in these past three years."