Greig Laidlaw is preparing to help Edinburgh Academicals stay in the Scottish Hydro Electric Premier One division before making an impact with both Edinburgh and Scotland 7’s.

The skilful scrum-half featured in Edinburgh’s back-up game against Glasgow at Lasswade on Monday and, in order to get further game-time, has been called up to pull on the blue and white hoops of the Accies again at Raeburn Place on Saturday 15 March, kick off 3pm.

With Stirling County – Allister Hogg’s home club – one place above the Accies with a game in hand, Laidlaw admits it is a must-win match for the Stockbridge-based club.

Laidlaw said: “It is an important game for Edinburgh Accies. I believe they need to win the game to stay up. I’m looking forward to playing 80 minutes and helping them to achieve that goal.

“I feel the best I have done for a while. Going away with the Sevens helped me and I’ve been involved with the first team since I came back; I feel sharp.”

“The game on Monday was played in hard conditions, but on the whole I was pleased with how I played. Now I’ve got this match on Saturday and hopefully it will help push me into the 22 for next Friday night against Connacht.”

As a goalkicker, Laidlaw acknowledges that the Accies’ fate may lie in his hands (or boot), but stresses that the pressure of taking pots at goal does not faze him.

He added: “One of the reasons I choose to kick goals is to be put into these positions, so if the team wants me to kick goals to decide the result then I am more than happy to do that.”

On Thursday, Laidlaw was named in Scotland’s 7’s squad for the rest of the IRB programme which takes in tournaments in Hong Kong, Adelaide, London and Edinburgh.

After impressing in the dark blue shirt, Laidlaw readily admits he is keen to carry on his fine form for the 7’s squad later on in the month.

He said: “I am very pleased to be going away on another trip with the Sevens. I went away to Wellington and to San Diego, but I think Hong Kong is the one that everyone wants to play in.

“That is the tournament I used to watch on the TV. Hong Kong Sevens is a great event and I am looking forward to getting involved.”

Meanwhile, lock Fergus Pringle and hooker Sean Crombie, who has also been selected for the 7’s squad, will be representing champions Boroughmuir against Melrose in the sixth round of the Scottish Hydro Electric Cup.

Prop Kyle Traynor will be captaining Watsonians against Dundee HSFP at Myreside in the same competition while full-back Jim Thompson, who scored an impressive try during the back-up game, plays for Heriot’s against Gala at Netherdale.

Edinburgh Rugby Club actively supports and promotes all the by clubs within the district of Edinburgh, so after watching Scotland take on Italy in the RBS 6 Nations why not go along and get your weekly fix of live rugby action at your local club?

Also remember Edinburgh Academicals are set to face the world-famous Barbarians at Raeburn Place on Wednesday, 9 April for more details click on the link on the left-hand side of the homepage.