Although he has learned his trade as a joiner, Greig Laidlaw is now far happier carving out a successful career on the rugby pitch.

This season, he is already starting to make a huge impact as a member of an Edinburgh team that made an impressive start to the Magners League. Now he’s hoping he can steer the capital side to success when the Heineken Cup gets underway this month.

An understudy to Scotland skipper Mike Blair at Edinburgh, the youngster has been a regular first choice as scrum half during the captain’s break following his return from the British Lions’ tour to South Africa in the summer.

“I’ve usually been stuck on the bench, but I’ve played in four matches already this season for Edinburgh,” said Laidlaw, who has helped the side win the first three matches and soar to an early season lead in the Magners League.

Greig – the nephew of Scotland’s legendary scrum half Roy Laidlaw – has already made his way up the Scottish rankings. Membership of Scottish Under-21s, Scottish Sevens and the Scottish A teams have already been ticked off. All that is left is the full side. 

But with the far more experienced Blair, Chris Cusiter and Rory Lawson also after the Scottish position, Laidlaw is aware that grabbing the scrum half international spot will be a tough ask. But he hopes he doesn’t have to bide his time for too long. 

“This season I just want to keep on pushing more and more and make improvements to my game,” he said. “I’m one of the younger scrum halves, but making the full international side and playing in the Six Nations is definitely the ultimate goal.”

As with all Borders boys, Laidlaw started his rugby career almost from infancy. “I played at Howdenburn Primary and then Jedburgh Grammar and as soon as I left school I went on to the local Under-18 side, Jedburgh Thistle,” he said. “I was 19 when I made it into the full Jed Forest side.”

Now in his fourth season at Edinburgh, he remains proud of his Borders roots, and is sad that the Borders professional team is now disbanded. “It’s the one area of Scotland where rugby is more popular than football,” he pointed out. “There are so many Border youngsters all desperate to play the game and keep up the tradition. It’s a shame that there isn’t a professional side anymore.”

But he also appreciates that the game moves on, and is thrilled that the professional advancement has provided the opportunity to turn his beloved sport into a thriving career. 

“I’m a qualified joiner, but now I’m a full-time rugby player and I wouldn’t want anything else,” he continued. “I enjoy living in Edinburgh and playing for such a great team. We have players such as Mike and Chris Paterson who have so much experience. Our coach Rob Moffat is also a tremendous help.”

But it is a far from easy life. He trains the first three days of the working week, has a light session on a Thursday and then plays on a Friday.  “Then there are also a couple of day working with weights, some speed sessions and time with the physio, and the rest of the SRU support staff,” he explained. 

It may sound exhausting, but he is in no doubt that all the hard work and dedication is worthwhile. Being able to fit kitchens or put up shelves is a handy skill, but his No.1 trade is scurrying around the scrum on the field of rugby. One day, he hopes to emulate his Uncle Roy, who earned 47 Scottish caps and toured with the 1983 Lions, and proudly pull on the Scottish No.9 shirt.

EB
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