Rae’s rugby roots can be found in the west of Scotland, having been part of an Ayr side that won the Premiership, Scottish Cup, and the Bill McLaren Shield in the same season, with Rae playing a part just aged 17.

A capped Scotland internationalist, the prop represented his country through the age grades, playing 18 times at under-20 level, having featured in two World Rugby U20 Championships and two Six Nations Under-20 Championships.

The tighthead’s professional career took flight at Glasgow Warriors – where Rae enjoyed an eight-year spell – a period in which the prop had loan spells at Benetton Treviso and London Scottish amidst 85 appearances for the Scotstoun outfit.

Rae left his boyhood club in 2021, heading to the English Premiership with Bath, where he made 46 appearances in two seasons at The Rec.

Hive Stadium will be a familiar setting for the Irvine born prop, having played for Bath against Edinburgh in the 2021/22 EPCR Challenge Cup Round of 16, with the capital side coming out on top.

The prop left Bath at the end of the 2022/23 season, moving to Montpellier on a short-term deal, where he featured against French heavyweights La Rochelle and Toulouse.