Magnus Bradbury explains decision to swap Edinburgh for Bristol Bears and his determination to go out on a high

The end of his Edinburgh career is fast approaching and Magnus Bradbury is looking to sign off in style.

Having agreed a deal to join Bristol Bears next season, this Saturday’s 1872 Cup derby against Glasgow Warriors at Murrayfield is likely to be his last home match for the club he has been with since 2014.

The No 8 has enjoyed a noteworthy season, making his 100th appearance for Edinburgh in the win over Benetton in December and re-establishing himself in the Scotland side after a two-year absence.

A win on Saturday would be a fitting way to say farewell to the supporters and would guarantee the club a place in next season’s Heineken Champions Cup.

Edinburgh have been revitalised under the slick, attacking game championed by Mike Blair and Bradbury has been both contributor and beneficiary, but the player has always had a hankering to play in the English Premiership and believes it will suit his style.

“My game is based around physicality and that’s what I enjoy,” he said. “That’s not to take away from the rugby we’ve been playing here, it’s been brilliant. It’s improved my game massively. I’ll miss the rugby we’re playing, but it’s part and parcel of a new challenge. It’s another chance to improve areas of my game, which is something I’m looking forward to.

“I’ve always had an inclination to go down there. The physicality of that league, and the whole nature of it is a completely different animal to what we have up here.

“It’s much more intense, with the week-on-week nature of it. It’s just a different challenge for me. I’ve always said that I want to play somewhere else at some stage and the opportunity came for Bristol, so I took that.”

While they are at the wrong end of the table in this campaign, the Bears reached