Laidlaw captains Edinburgh against Munster

Posted on Feb 18, 2010 in Rugby News

Greig Laidlaw will captain a new-look Edinburgh side for the trip to Magners League champions Munster on Friday evening (19 February, kick off 8pm, live on Setanta Ireland) and head coach Rob Moffat believes the scrum-half has the right skill-set to lead the side to a positive result.

Laidlaw, 24, signed a new two year contract with Edinburgh on Monday and has been rewarded with the captaincy for the trip to Cork to face the tournament title holders.

Moffat says that his elevation to captain was a logical choice and will lead to a seamless transition should replacement Mike Blair be introduced into the action during the game.

Moffat said: “Greig is playing consistently well and I think he is a natural leader.

“At scrum half, he is in a good position to captain the side and, with Mike on the bench, it means if we make the change then there is a straight swap.”

Laidlaw forms a half-back combination with David Blair, who makes his first appearance for Edinburgh since damaging his ankle against Bath in December.

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Evans and Paterson in “Good Spirits”

Posted on Feb 16, 2010 in Rugby News

The injured Scotland players Thom Evans and Chris Paterson are continuing today to recover from the injuries they sustained in the RBS 6 Nations Championship match against Wales last weekend.

The pair remain in University Hospital Cardiff and both are described as being in “good spirits” by medical staff.

Scotland team doctor James Robson said: “Thom has been heartened by the many messages of support he has received from around the world.

“The surgeons are delighted with his progress. Thom and his mum met with the surgeons last night and Thom has opted to undergo a further procedure later this week, which will enhance the surgery that has already taken place and provide further stabilisation to his neck.

“This procedure is optional and Thom could have decided to have it done at a later point, or not at all. He’s decided to go ahead now and that should help with the whole recovery process.
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Scotland side to play Argentina named

Posted on Nov 25, 2009 in Rugby News

Scotland have made three changes and one further positional switch in their team for Saturday’s Murrayfield meeting with Argentina.

Following the 9-8 victory over Australia last weekend, head coach Andy Robinson describes the changes as “subtle”. They see 24-year-old Edinburgh flanker Alan MacDonald introduced for his first cap, alongside the return of Ben Cairns (his fellow Royal High School former pupil) and Thom Evans in the back division, with Alex Grove moving to inside centre.

Tickets are on sale now from £10 for adults and £5 for under-18s and students and can be bought online until 12 midnight on Friday at www.scottishrugby.org.

The alternations have been undertaken with a view to delivering a win against Argentina who are above Scotland in the IRB world rankings.

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Robinson names his first Scotland selection

Posted on Nov 9, 2009 in Rugby News

Head coach Any Robinson has named one new cap in the Scotland team to play Fiji in the Bank of Scotland Corporate Autumn Test at Murrayfield on Saturday.

Alex Grove, the Worcester Warriors outside centre, who celebrates his 22nd birthday on St Andrew’s Day, will make his debut, while Robinson also lists Moray Low, 24, at tight-head prop to make his first international start and his first cap appearance at Murrayfield.

In all there are ten changes in personnel from the Scotland team that started their last international against England at Twickenham last March for Robinson’s first match as Scotland head coach having been appointed in June.

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Chris Paterson resumes training

Posted on Nov 6, 2009 in Rugby News

Scotland’s cap and points’ record holder Chris Paterson resumed training with the national squad on the final day of their camp in St Andrews today.

Paterson, who had missed Edinburgh’s Magners League game against the Dragons last weekend on account of a foot injury, took part in the session in bright and clear conditions on the Madras pitches.

His club colleague, centre Ben Cairns, continues to receive treatment for the knee injury which saw him retire in the first-half of that match. Cairns did not train today.

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