Scotland record-breaker Chris Paterson believes he will be involved in more attractive rugby this season after swapping Gloucester for Edinburgh.
The versatile back returned to the Scottish capital this summer after a year in the Guinness Premiership.
And he is looking forward to the Magners League kick-off against European champions Munster on September 5 after finding the English top flight too negative.
"I genuinely think the Magners League is better, certainly for my game and the game Edinburgh play," said Paterson, who became Scotland's record cap-holder and points scorer last month.
"The Premiership is physically dominated and there are a lot of slower games and relegation sometimes strangles the spectacle.
"You get two or three great games at the top end of the league undoubtedly, but towards the bottom there are tough, tough games.
"The threat of relegation and the amount of money you could lose in relegation sometimes strangles it.
"The Magners League is more positive, more attacking and certainly better to watch."
Paterson left Edinburgh amid uncertainty over the club's future but they were revived after the SRU reassumed control and installed Andy Robinson as head coach.
"I'm delighted to be home," the 30-year-old Paterson told BBC Scotland.
"This is where I want to play, this is where I can get the best out of me.
"On the field and off the field it has changed massively in 12 months but I never really felt as if I left. It's a great place to be.
"It wasn't a huge disaster at Gloucester but the game time didn't suit me or Gloucester. That's all in the past and I'm looking forward to a fast start to the season."
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Comment 1 - 4 of 4
the only reason scottish teams don't feature regulary in europe is down to the funding the 3 regions get, they produce good quality players but don't have the financial clout to import foreigners which the premiership has, take your imports away and what do you have .....an english team losing to scotland which to be honest,(take nothin away from scotland) should not happen.all the money the R.F.U. has and they can't compete against the little giants of rugby
The only thing that makes the Premiership worth anything at all in terms of a spectacle is the skill that is brought to it by the huge amount of foreign players that it contains. Take them out of the equation and they would all struggle to compete in the Celtic league- right on Patterson!!
Paterson: "the (Celtic) League is better, certainly for my game and the game Edinburgh play." It sounds to me that neither Chris Paterson nor Edinburgh are good enough to compete in the Premiership, which is the best true-club competition in the world. How many Celtic League teams can make a consistent impact in Europe? Munster obviously; Leinster usually; one of Llanelli or Cardiff occasionally. Scotland teams ever? Nope, sorry.
Patterson is spot on the English game has beome strangled by oversees players all up front and no back flair as well as the appointment of Rob and Martin ,just seems like jobs for the boys the old guard in once again, its unfortnate to say but top quality coaching direct and indirect we cannot compete with southern hemishere counties and there are nt many of them oz nz sa arg can still produce time again what we strive for and fail. Come back to the celts and lets entertain
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