Having played in all but three games for the Reivers so far this season, Ford will team up with new Reivers signing and fellow Calcutta Cup hero Gavin Kerr in an increasingly impressive Reivers front row.

Ford said: “It is a great opportunity to play with the Reivers and I am really looking forward to teaming up with Gavin [Kerr] who has signed from Leeds.

“We have improved as a team consistently over the season and I hope the team can continue their progress into possible Heineken Cup competition next season.”

Reivers head coach Steve Bates added: “Ross has made huge progress in the last few seasons and hope to seeing him continuing to improve both with the Reivers and Scotland.”

The Reivers’ Samoan back-row forward Semo Sititi has also confirmed today that he will leave the club at the end of the season after his second spell in the Borders, interspersed by a season with English Premiership side Newcastle Falcons.

Sititi said: “I am going to Japan for two seasons before heading home to Samoa and would be honoured to visit Scotland in the future because it feels like my second home.”

“This has been a very difficult decision for me to make and the fact that my family have enjoyed their life in the Borders makes it even harder.

Bates added: “Semo has been a great servant to the Reivers during both stints with us and we all wish him the very best of luck in his future in Japan.

Bates concluded: “I am very confident that when we finish the recruitment and re-signing process that we will have a competitive outfit.”