Blair believes local pride has helped Edinburgh

The current squad, containing only one non-Scot, Dutchman Tim Visser, has 17 players who were born in Edinburgh - drawing parallels with football's legendary 'Lisbon Lions'.

When Celtic became the first Scottish football team to win the European Cup in 1967 their entire team came from within a 30-mile radius of Parkhead and Blair believes local pride has also helped Edinburgh to achieve success.

Blair said: "I've always lived here in Edinburgh and I've always aspired to play professional rugby for Edinburgh.

"It was never just about getting a professional contract it was about playing professionally for Edinburgh.

"It is great that we have so many Edinburgh born and bred guys in the squad and we also have some guys from the Borders, Caledonia and from the West and everyone has bought into our values.

"It helps that there is a core of Edinburgh guys who are born and bred in the city who understand the traditions and the Edinburgh values which are hard work and humility."

Blair, set to play against Leinster on Saturday, played in the same Edinburgh Academy school team as current half-back partner Phil Godman and his younger brother David and Ross Rennie also attended the same school.

Meanwhile, Andrew Kelly and Ross Samson attended Stewart's Melville, both Alan MacDonald and Ben Cairns were schooled at Royal High and Andrew Turnbull went to George Watson's College.

Blair highlights the fact that the players have all blended their own rugby philosophies together to create a unique Edinburgh spirit in the dressing room.

He added: "Edinburgh is a good club to be a part of and we've all brought our own ideas to create a real club feel to it. The more guys you have coming through and only playing in Edinburgh does make a big difference - you create a strong identity.

"The more guys you have playing together over a long period of time then the more successful a club will be.

"A good example of that was Argentina at the last Rugby World Cup. They had been playing together for about six or seven years. The camaraderie off the pitch can often support the teamwork on the pitch."