Relegated Brive underline ambition with capture of Blair

Mike Blair is expected to confirm this week that he is joining French second division outfit Brive.

The former Edinburgh scrum half had been linked with a move to Perpignan, but that foundered on budget cuts at the Catalan club. A source close to Brive said yesterday that the 31-year-old, who is currently on tour with Scotland, has now agreed terms with the recently relegated side based in the Limousin region.

Nicolas Godignon and Didier Casadeï, who were confirmed two weeks ago as coaches for next season, have been active in the transfer market over the past few days and have snapped up prop Johannes Kritzinger, flanker Vassili Bost, winger Ilikena Bolakoro and full back Leo Griffoul.

However, it is the capture of 80-times capped Blair, left that has underlined the ambition of the club to bounce back from a season that saw them win only seven of their 26 matches and finish second bottom of the Top 14 table. Brive coach Ugo Mola subsequently resigned his post.

If the move is confirmed, Blair will follow a well-trodden path, with fellow Scots Steve Brotherstone, Tom Smith and Gregor Townsend having played there in the past.