USA star Brett Thompson is leaving the USA 7s program and USA shores to play for the Edinburgh pro rugby club in the RaboDirect 12 in Scotland.

Thompson first garnered notice as an international rugby player a little over a year ago in Scotland, when he went on a try-scoring tear at the Glasgow 7s. He quickly became one of the top players on the USA 7s team. He was called to the USA 15s team, but didn't get any playing time until the USA v Canada game June 21. Thompson started on the left wing in that game, made a few plays in a quiet 50 minutes or so, and then shot to the top of everyone's mind when he scored the game-winning try.

He followed that up with a try-saving, and thus game-saving, tackle later on.

Thompson played rugby as a youngster in his home of Tempe, Ariz., and then football and rugby at the University of Arizona. One thing he has going for him in signing with Edinburgh is that, because his father, USA Rugby's HS All American Head Coach Salty Thompson, was born in Northern Ireland, he will qualify for a UK passport and thus visa and work permits will be much easier.

Edinburgh finished 8th in the RaboDirect 12 last season, winning 7 and losing 15. However, eight of their losses were by a try or less, meaning that a small upgrade in offense and defense could see them make a marked improvement in 2014-2015.