A former pupil of Methodist College Belfast, his peers included Luke Marshall, Craig Gilroy and Paddy Jackson who also joined Ulster's Academy straight from school.

But Allen admits his move from Belfast to the Scottish capital will take him out of his comfort zone.

He said: "I've never lived anywhere else, always been in Belfast, and I'm probably a bit of a homebird. I do love the city and everything that comes with it but I'm looking forward to making a change, starting afresh.

"Apart from playing Edinburgh at BT Murrayfield over the last few years, I've only ever to been to the city twice to visit, both times with rugby school tours when we played Merchiston Castle School.

"I'm really looking forward to moving to the city, I'm really excited. It looks like an incredible place to live."

What has also excited Allen is the progress of Edinburgh this season and the style of play developing within the club.

He said: "Edinburgh have played some brilliant rugby this year and shown the potential of being a very, very good side.

"I think the ethos, the fitness, the physicality, everything - from what I can see the team pride themselves on being the best defensively, the fittest and the most disciplined and I'm just looking forward to getting stuck in and trying to spring anything I can."