Geoff Cross takes the ball to Racing Metro © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Michael Bradley | Geoff Cross | Robin Hislop | Lewis Niven

Tournaments/Tours: RaboDirect PRO12

Teams: Scotland

Scottish international prop Geoff Cross has extended his contract at Edinburgh until the summer of 2014.

Cross is joined in re-signing for the RaboDirect PRO12 alongside front-row duo 23-year-old Lewis Niven and 19-year-old Robin Hislop. Cross, who also happens to be a qualified doctor, has enjoyed working under the guidance of forwards coach Tom Smith and he took his bow for Scotland back in the 2009 Six Nations. He earned a call up to the 2011 World Cup squad and featured in their Pool matches against Romania and Argentina.

The 29-year-old is set to feature in Edinburgh's key clash with London Irish on Sunday and he is relishing the chance to ply his trade against the best Europe has to offer.

"Edinburgh Rugby provide me with an environment in which I can improve and flourish. There's a good set of guys here and I'm enjoying the challenges that we've got ahead of us," Cross said. "I'm very confident that we can continue to progress. There's the right environment to train well, train hard and challenge each other and that's something I enjoy.

"This coming match is a first for me in European competition because we have a real chance to make the quarter finals, which makes it very important and very exciting. London Irish are a fantastic side and have some of the best counter-attacking skills of any team we've faced so it's going to be a fantastic challenge to meet at Murrayfield on Sunday."

And head coach Michael Bradley sees the trio's re-signing as a sign of their continued commitment to improve their fortunes. "It's fantastic for the club to be able to announce the contract extensions of three very talented and technical athletes at such an exciting time for the club," Bradley said. "It's testimony to Edinburgh Rugby's ambition that, at a time when everyone's caught up in the Heineken Cup hysteria of today, there's a lot of hard work going on behind the scenes to ensure we're back here tomorrow."