Outside-centre Benjamin James Cairns has established himself as one of the finest attacking talents in the country.
He delighted Edinburgh Rugby supporters by agreeing a new three-season contract in May 2010, a deal that will see him spend his prime years at the capital club. The following month, he was part of the Scotland 'A' squad at the IRB Nations Cup in Romania.
Unfortunately, in the summer of 2011, Cairns was dealt the double disappointment of narrowly missing out on selection for the Rugby World Cup before sustaining a pre-season knee injury with Edinburgh Rugby that ruled him out of the entire 2011/12 season, with his attention fixed on a 2012/13 return.
Cairns won his first Scotland caps in 2008, featuring in against such opposition as New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina and Wales before making his 100th club appearance in the 1872 Cup derby against Glasgow Warriors at Firhill in December 2010.
He scored his first try for the full national team against Canada in the Bank of Scotland Corporate Autumn Test at Pittodrie in November 2008. He recorded his 50th appearance for Edinburgh against Wasps a month later. This milestone was a remarkable achievement, given that it was only his third full campaign as a professional player,.
Cairns was named Edinburgh captain for the Magners League match against Newport Gwent Dragons in February 2008 and he responded with a try, underlining his growing importance to the team. The previous season, he had beenvoted Edinburgh’s Young Player of the Year for 2008.
A favourite with the Murrayfield supporters, Cairns, along with club-mate Nick De Luca, is also joint top try-scorer for Scotland’s under 21 team and has represented his country at under-18, under-19 levels and in the IRB sevens circuit.
In March 2007, Ben made his Scotland A debut as a substitute in the victory against Italy A at McDiarmid Park, Perth. He scored his first Scotland A try in the 37-15 victory against their Italian counterparts in Mogliano, near Venice, in February 2008, and followed up with another score in the 67-7 win against Ireland A three weeks later at McDiarmid Park.
Bizarrely, even though Cairns was a contracted apprentice with Edinburgh, he his Celtic League debut by playing for Glasgow Warriors as a replacement while on loan for the match against Ospreys in January 2006.
He made his first competitive appearance in the black and red in May 2006, during Edinburgh’s Magners League match against Leinster at Murrayfield.
Despite being born in Leeds, Cairns is Edinburgh through and through and attended the Royal High School.
A keen Hibernian supporter, Cairns scored the winning try in the opening match of the 1872 Challenge Cup against Glasgow at Murrayfield in December 2007.
He made his name at Currie where his brother, former Scotland under 21 internationalist Mark, also plays and away from rugby he lists going to the cinema as his favourite pastime.
