Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
NZ NZ

Greig Laidlaw to make ProD2 switch gamble - reports

By Online Editors
(Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Former Scotland captain Greig Laidlaw is set to leave Clermont Auvergne for a switch to the ProD2 with Perpignan – according to reports in France.

ADVERTISEMENT

Laidlaw, 34, has led Scotland 39 times, more than any other player, and won 76 caps, before announcing his retirement from international rugby following the Rugby World Cup in Japan.

Laidlaw has spent the last two seasons in France with Clermont, winning the Challenge Cup last year.

Meanwhile, Perpignan currently sit in third on the ProD2 after they were relegated in last season’s Top 14. Unless Laidlaw has a promotion/relegation clause, his move is effectively a gamble on whether not the Catalans gain promotion.

Continue reading below…

WATCH: Head coach Eddie Jones and captain Owen Farrell hold a press conference in London ahead of the start of the Six Nations tournament.

Video Spacer

The Scottish veteran’s Test breakthrough came with two replacement appearances in 2011 before he narrowly missed out on final squad selection for Rugby World Cup 2011, a moment that galvanised the ambition of the resolute, competitive player he would become.

The next Test opportunity for the proud Jed man came the following year when his versatility and rugby nous were pressed into action at stand-off, where he made 11 further Scotland appearances, including a clean sweep of summer tour wins in 2012 over Australia, Fiji and Samoa.

ADVERTISEMENT

Finishing the season in possession of the No. 9 jersey led to him being named captain for the first time in 2013 – against South Africa in Nelspruit – starting an unprecedented association with the role that came to an end when he led Scotland against Japan in the final Test of Rugby World Cup 2019.

By 2014, it was clear Laidlaw had developed significantly as both a leader and scrum-half, his commanding hand on the tiller and goal kicking in particular now dependable features of his game.

His metronomic displays helped Scotland to the quarter-finals of RWC2015 and his nomination for World Rugby Player of the Year, only the second Scot to achieve such an accolade.

Stuart Hogg, <a href=
Tommy Seymour, Greig Laidlaw” width=”1920″ height=”1080″ /> Scotland’s Tommy Seymour, Greig Laidlaw and Stuart Hogg walk to Lions training in 2017 (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
ADVERTISEMENT

A 2017 British and Irish Lions call-up came after recovering from an ankle injury sustained in that year’s away Six Nations match in Paris.

He would return to star in the 2018 Six Nations Championship, scoring 22 points in Scotland’s home win over France and featuring against England in the Calcutta Cup triumph two weeks later.

Laidlaw played three times at RWC2019 earlier this year, where he passed the 100-World Cup tournament point mark in Scotland’s final match against the hosts, in what would ultimately be his last game in dark blue.

ADVERTISEMENT

Join free

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 6

Sam Warburton | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

Japan Rugby League One | Sungoliath v Eagles | Full Match Replay

Japan Rugby League One | Spears v Wild Knights | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 10 | Six Nations Final Round Review

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | How can New Zealand rugby beat this Ireland team

Beyond 80 | Episode 5

Rugby Europe Men's Championship Final | Georgia v Portugal | Full Match Replay

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

B
Bull Shark 2 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
FEATURE
FEATURE Juan Ignacio Brex: 'Italy made history, but it's not enough' Juan Ignacio Brex: 'Italy made history, but it's not enough'
Search