Wasps bid for Lawson less likely

SCOTLAND scrum-half Rory Lawson will leave Gloucester at the end of this season but his future will not be at fellow Premiership side Wasps.

The 31-year-old, who has won 30 caps for Scotland, is still in talks with clubs about a move but it is understood that Wasps, who were believed to be in the frame early this week, are not one of his suitors.

Both he and Mike Blair, the Edinburgh scrum-half who turns 31 next month, will be with different clubs next season as they strive to improve their chances of claiming the Scotland No 9 jersey in the continuing rivalry at Test level. But which clubs they will join remains undetermined.

Blair was in the sights of Ulster several years ago and there was a suggestion at one point that should he quit Scotland Lawson would be a possible replacement, returning to his former club. However, though Blair is expected to be replaced by a high-quality recruit by Michael Bradley, the former Dollar Academy and Heriot’s scrum-half does not appear to be on Bradley’s target list.

Meanwhile, Edinburgh have added Dougie Fife, Ulises Gamboa and Robert McAlpine to their Heineken Cup squad for the knockout stages.