Scotland scrum-half Blair to leave Edinburgh

Scotland scrum-half Mike Blair is to leave European Cup semi-finalists Edinburgh at the end of the season, the club said in a statement on Wednesday. Blair, 30, joined Edinburgh in 2002 and has played more than 150 matches for the region, in addition to making 80 Test appearances for Scotland, making him the country's most-capped number nine. The player said he had been honoured to play for his home town club and the decision to leave had been difficult but he added that "the time is right for me personally to throw myself at a whole new challenge", without elaborating. Blair made his 50th European Cup appearance in last weekend's quarter-final victory over French side Toulouse, setting up a semi-final clash with Ulster in Dublin later this month. Edinburgh head coach Michael Bradley described Blair as "one of the most naturally gifted scrum-halves of this era" and wished him well.