Paterson did homework on Edinburgh

Published on Thursday 8 May 2008 10:11

CHRIS PATERSON has pinpointed Ben Cairns as one of the players he is most looking forward to playing alongside when returning to Edinburgh's rugby team next season.

The 30-year-old utility back has agreed to return to the Capital on a two-year deal at the start of next season and hopes to pick up where he left off prior to joining Gloucester last summer.

And, it is an indication of Paterson's enthusiasm for the move that he watched Edinburgh's win at Neath/Swansea Ospreys last weekend.

Such a trip proved worthwhile for Paterson since it confirmed his belief that some burgeoning talent is starting to come through the ranks since he left.

Paterson said: "I was so impressed with what I saw. I always rated Ben Cairns. He has really developed and I thought his performance against the Ospreys was really good.

"Nick De Luca and Ross Rennie have also emerged as really talented players this season and I'm really excited about working with them again. One of the most important aspects for a player is to feel part of a team and I always had that at Edinburgh. I am now looking to fight my way back in again."

Paterson has revealed he was contacted by Edinburgh players once his impending return was announced.

"Ally Hogg texted me and asked if I wanted showing around on my first day, which I found quite funny. It is not an easy choice to make to come back and in some ways it would have been more straightforward to go somewhere else. But when I knew a move was possible there was only one club that I wanted to join."

Meanwhile, Cairns, newly picked as one of three uncapped players in Scotland's squad to tour Argentina next month, is warning that a concluding Magners Celtic League visit to Llanelli tomorrow could be all the more dangerous for the Welshmen being without a coach following a parting of the ways with Phil Davies earlier this week.

Recalling how Edinburgh had been in similar limbo at the start of the current campaign, Cairns said: "We bounced back stronger and Llanelli will probably take the same attitude. Far from being vulnerable it will most likely bring them together. We have to travel with that attitude."