Mike Blair to join Brive

British Lion Blair, who is due to win his 82nd cap and stand alongside Gregor Townsend as third equal in the list of Scotland's most-capped players, when he plays against Fiji on Saturday, is bringing to an end a ten-year link with Edinburgh Rugby, the club who gave him his first professional contract.

Now he will play in the south of France with a club that will play in France's Pro2 next season, though he remains fully committed to extending his Scotland career.

Blair said: "I've never made a secret of my desire to play in France at some stage during my career and I'm delighted that it will be with Brive.

"It's a lovely place with an incredible support and I'm really looking forward to meeting up with them after the Scotland tour.

"There were a number of considerations that I wanted to take into account for me and my family and Brive ticks a lot of the boxes that matter to us."