Blair to Brive

Slightly surprised at this one, but here it is from the Hootsmon:

Relegated Brive underline ambition with capture of Blair

Mike Blair is expected to confirm this week that he is joining French second division outfit Brive.

The former Edinburgh scrum half had been linked with a move to Perpignan, but that foundered on budget cuts at the Catalan club. A source close to Brive said yesterday that the 31-year-old, who is currently on tour with Scotland, has now agreed terms with the recently relegated side based in the Limousin region.

Nicolas Godignon and Didier Casadeï, who were confirmed two weeks ago as coaches for next season, have been active in the transfer market over the past few days and have snapped up prop Johannes Kritzinger, flanker Vassili Bost, winger Ilikena Bolakoro and full back Leo Griffoul.

However, it is the capture of 80-times capped Blair, left that has underlined the ambition of the club to bounce back from a season that saw them win only seven of their 26 matches and finish second bottom of the Top 14 table. Brive coach Ugo Mola subsequently resigned his post.

If the move is confirmed, Blair will follow a well-trodden path, with fellow Scots Steve Brotherstone, Tom Smith and Gregor Townsend having played there in the past.

Brive undoubtedly have an illustrious history, but is this the level of rugby that Mike Blair should be playing at if he continues to harbour international ambitions?

Does Mike Blair still have international hopes?
Hell of a signing for Brive though and one they could desperately use.

eirebilly wrote:Does Mike Blair still have international hopes?
Hell of a signing for Brive though and one they could desperately use.

Billy, I would have thought so, he's only 31, and is likely to form the half-back partnership with Greig Laidlaw/Duncan Weir for Scotland for the next year or so, or at least be on the bench

It just seems to me that by going to Brive in the French second division, that he is accepting the fact that he may not be recalled, well unless Brive get back to the top and he has a great season with them in the top flight but he would be 33 then.

I actually think that he will do very well at Brive.

Who are going to be the SHs for Edinburgh then?
it is a strange one , specially as Brive have to cut deeply into their budget now and most of their big names already announced they are leaving. an experienced scrum half such as Blair is certainly an unexpected gift for a team playing in pro-D2.

whocares wrote:Who are going to be the SHs for Edinburgh then?
it is a strange one , specially as Brive have to cut deeply into their budget now and most of their big names already announced they are leaving. an experienced scrum half such as Blair is certainly an unexpected gift for a team playing in pro-D2.

Richie Rees (just signed from Cardiff), Chris Leck and Alex Black