Double trouble for Edinburgh's rivals

Brought in as apprentices, the brothers represent relatively cheap labour at this stage, but sorting out the capital's struggling professional team is a long-term project and they will get the chance to make their mark once they have proven their fitness to work.

The twins, who have secured two-year contracts, are Brisbane-born but qualify for Scotland through their mother Linda - who hails from Carluke. The youngsters, whose paternal grandfather was also born in Scotland, have signed subject to a medical examination but, having been involved in Australia's national development programme, must now undergo an eight week 'pre-season' programme at Murrayfield. It is unlikely, then, that they will be available for the opening matches of the RaboDirect Pro12 campaign in less than a month's time.

While Alan Solomons, Edinburgh's new head coach, has been consulted on transfer targets, they were offered their opportunity by Scott Johnson, a fellow Australian who is now the SRU's director of rugby and caretaker coach of the national team.

He took time out of watching the British & Irish Lions tour this summer to meet them in Brisbane and - on the basis of video evidence from Brisbane club rugby - invited them to move.

"He sat down with us and expressed what he wanted to do with Scotland rugby and his interest in Ben and I," explained Alex. "He'd been watching footage of us playing in the Premier Grade competition in Brisbane. He'd contacted us about three or four weeks before he met us in person and he said he'd set up some sort of meeting. We take any opportunity that's given to us and we were excited to hear that he was interested."

Members of the GPS Old Boys Club from the age of six, the brothers were also highly-rated volleyball players at school. It was this secondary talent which resulted in the only deviation of their sporting paths three years ago, when Alex stuck with rugby in helping the club's under-19 side win their Premiership while Ben toured with the national under-18 and under-20 volleyball teams.

Immersed in their Scottish heritage through their parents, grand-parents and extended family, they were always conscious of the full range of options available to them.

"Growing up, Ben and I never really saw playing rugby at a professional level as an option," said Alex. "We just had fun with sport and it was only a year after we left school that we felt professional rugby was something we wanted to do and then we realised that having Scottish heritage would be a massive benefit for us about two years ago and we applied for our British passports.

"Playing in Australia has been great but we've just taken the opportunity with Scotland and they've put their faith in us. We'd like just to work hard and see where Scotland rugby takes us, but playing for Edinburgh is our first goal and if we get to play for Scotland in a few years time that would be great."

Steve Scott, Edinburgh's forwards coach, said the signing of the Toolis twins, along with that last week of Ollie Atkins, another Scottish-qualified Australian lock, is part of a necessary toughening up process to prepare for the new coach.

"Alan's been coaching in different competitions in South Africa so things will be physical," he said. "It will take time but I'm pretty confident from the conversations that we'll see a different Edinburgh team with an edge to it which we need."