Laidlaw gets captain’s armband for Edinburgh

Posted on Aug 10, 2011 in Edinburgh, Scottish Rugby

Edinburgh Rugby head coach, Michael Bradley, today named scrum-half, Greig Laidlaw, as club captain for the 2011/12 RaboDirect PRO12 and Heineken Cup season.

Laidlaw, 25, was one of Edinburgh Rugby’s most consistent performers last season, splitting his game time between the pivotal positions of stand-off and scrum-half with considerable aplomb, earning the recognition of his peers as the players’ player of the 2010/11 season.

A lively and skilful scrum-half, Laidlaw won his second cap as a replacement in Scotland’s 10-6 win over Ireland on Saturday and has played 86 times for the capital club since joining form Jed-Forest in 2006.

Laidlaw is no stranger to captaincy, leading the club four times last season as well as Scotland A in their wins over the Ireland Wolfhounds (32-13) and Italy A (11-3) earlier this year, before capping off arguably his most successful rugby season with selection in Andy Robinson’s provisional Rugby World Cup squad.

Laidlaw will be supported by last season’s captain, Roddy Grant, who will assume the role of vice captain.

Laidlaw said: “It’s a great honour to be named as captain. It’s a great responsibility and one I’m looking forward to taking on. I certainly like to captain the side by leading by example and will do my talking on the field for Edinburgh Rugby next season.

“This will be my sixth season at the club and I’ve enjoyed becoming the player I am today. I’ve enjoyed the hard work and feel that my strength and speed in particular have improved and game management has come on massively.

“A the moment I’m concentrating fully on the Rugby World Cup and working hard to make it to New Zealand so I can showcase what I can do for Scotland and return to Edinburgh as captain.

“It’s going to be a tough season, we all know that, but as long as we train hard and play to our abilities we’ll do well and I’m looking forward to being part of that.”

Bradley said: “Greig Laidlaw, while being a quality player, reflects a number of the key values that I want to see at Edinburgh Rugby.

“He’s hard working, leads by example, is constantly looking to improve, is a team player and he has the respect of all of the playing staff, management and supporters.

“Greig [Laidlaw] and our vice captain Roddy Grant reflect very positively on what we are trying to do at the club. Under their leadership, particularly the example they set as professionals, the club will grow and prosper.

“My preference as a coach is that our captain, and players that are in positions to lead, do so by example. I’ve always found that’s the best way of creating a winning environment and producing positive results.

“Greig [Laidlaw] has trained fantastically well with Scotland and if he’s selected to travel to New Zealand with Scotland then Roddy has the experience and ability to step in and lead our team.

“It’s a good position for Edinburgh Rugby to be in, to have two guys of that sort of calibre, to guide us through the 2011/12 season.”

Monday ERC result.

Posted on Dec 21, 2010 in Rugby News

POOL 1

Edinburgh 24 Castres Olympique 22
HT: 14-10 Attendance: 0
Edinburgh: Try – Simon Webster, Tim Visser, Lee Jones; Conversion – Chris Paterson (2) , David Blair; Penalty – David Blair; Yellow Card – Greig Laidlaw
Castres Olympique: Try – Sébastien Tillous-Borde, Rodrigo Capo Ortega; Conversion – Seremaia Bai (2) ; Penalty – Pierre Bernard; Penalty Try
Match points: Edinburgh 4pts, Castres Olympique 1pts

Laidlaw added to Scotland 22

Posted on Nov 12, 2010 in Rugby News

Greig Laidlaw, the uncapped Edinburgh scrum-half, has today been added to the Scotland 22 for Saturday’s EMC Autumn Test against New Zealand at Murrayfield.

Laidlaw, nephew of the former Scotland and British Lions scrum-half, Roy Laidlaw, replaces Rory Lawson, who has not recovered sufficiently from a hand injury he sustained in action for his club Gloucester.

Scotland head coach Andy Robinson said: “This is obviously disappointing for Rory but there’s now an opportunity for Greig, who is tenacious and fiercely competitive and has shown the skills and mindset on his appearances for Scotland A and Scotland 7s and on his performances for Edinburgh to underline his international credentials.”

Laidlaw said: “You feel for your team-mate in a situation like this but it’s clearly a great chance for me and one I’m determined to take if I get game time.”

Scotland captain Mike Blair, Laidlaw’s Edinburgh colleague, today confirmed he is relishing the prospect of leading the national side into battle on Saturday. The scrum-half told www.scotlandrugbyteam.org: "It’s going to be a fantastic occasion and a great opportunity for us to give our supporters another memorable day.

"The All Blacks are a top quality side, and we will have to be at the top of our game, matching their skill, enthusiasm and intensity, but we go into the match in a very positive frame of mind and ready for the challenge. "

More than 53,000 tickets have now been sold for Saturday’s game. The remaining seats can still be booked in three ways: via the Scottish Rugby website (www.scottishrugby.org); via the 24 hour phone line 0844 335 3933; or in person from the Scottish Rugby Ticket Centre, Gate A, Roseburn Street, Edinburgh.

Please note there are no ticket sales on match day.  Website and phone line sales close at 12 midnight on Friday, while the Ticket Centre is open for personal purchasers from 9am-8pm, Monday to Friday this week.

Tickets are priced at £20, £25 and £45 for adults and £10, £12.50 and £22.50 for under-18s.

Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh).  Scrum-half. Born 12.10.85 in Edinburgh. Height: 5ft 9ins. Weight: 12st 4lbs.

Greig David Laidlaw, a nephew of Scotland’s legendary scrum half, Roy Laidlaw, joined Edinburgh Rugby in summer 2006 from Jed-Forest after two years in the Scotland under-21 team.

In January 2008 he was called into the Scotland 7s squad for the first time for the IRB tournaments the following month in Wellington (New Zealand) and San Diego (USA), and he continued in the Hong Kong, Adelaide (Australia), London and Edinburgh tournaments. A week after the Australian tournament he played for the Scottish Thistles who won the Melrose club’s 125th anniversary sevens. He marked his international sevens debut with a try in the win against Tonga in Scotland’s opening match in Wellington.

Immediately after the 2008 Edinburgh 7s tournament he crossed the Atlantic with the Scotland A squad for the Barclays Churchill Cup in Canada, making his debut as scrum-half in the win against Argentina. He had further Scotland A appearances as a replacement against Ireland and Italy in February 2009. He was back in the sevens squad in May 2009 for the IRB’s Twickenham and Murrayfield tournaments. Six months later he won the man-of-the-match award as a try-scorer in Scotland A’s win against Tonga by 38-7 at Netherdale, Galashiels. In 2010 Greig has been named in the Scotland sevens squad and has appeared for Scotland A against both Ireland A and Italy A. Greig was honoured to be named captain in the latter of these fixtures. In the summer of 2010 he added three more appearances for Scotland A against Georgia, Namibia and the Argentine Jaguars during the IRB Nations Cup.

Greig’s first appearance for Edinburgh was as a replacement in the Magners League victory against Leinster at Murrayfield in September 2006, and his first start for the professional team was against Cardiff Blues the following November, also at Murrayfield. Greig made his under-21 international debut as a replacement in the win against Italy in Inverness in February 2005. He subsequently played in the under-21 world championship in Mendoza, Argentina, and he was first-choice scrum-half throughout the 2006 under-21 6 Nations championship and the world championship in France, where he scored a try in each of two successive matches against Georgia and Fiji.

His earlier representative rugby included games for Borders’ under-16 and under-18 as well as Scotland under-18.

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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Laidlaw agrees new Edinburgh deal

Posted on Feb 16, 2010 in Rugby News

Greig Laidlaw says he is looking forward to challenging Mike Blair for Edinburgh’s number nine jersey after agreeing a new two year contract with the club.

The 24-year-old has enjoyed a productive season so far and has recorded 11 starts including a man-of-the-match display against Stade Francais in the Heineken Cup.

Now Laidlaw says he is aiming to help Edinburgh reach the Magners League Grand Final in May and competing with captain Blair to be the team’s first choice scrum half.

Laidlaw said: “I’m very happy to be signing for another two years. First and foremost, I want to help the team reach the play-offs and challenge for the title.

“Another target is that I want to keep my place in the Edinburgh side. Mike has just signed a new contract as well, so I’m looking forward to the battle.

“I’ve been delighted with how this season has gone so far. I think I’ve developed massively as a player this year.

“I’ve really enjoyed my rugby and I think that has shown on the pitch. I’ve been pleased with some of the performances I’ve put in and long may that continue.”

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