Edinburgh head coach Mike Blair to step down at end of 2022/23 season

Edinburgh have confirmed that head coach Mike Blair will be stepping down from the role at the end of the ongoing season.

Blair joined Edinburgh as head coach in 2021 and on his maiden season he helped them reach the play-offs of the United Rugby Championship and the quarter-final of the Challenge Cup.

On his second season, the club went on to reach the knock out stage of Heineken Champions Cup but now wants to move on from his head coach role.

“My time as Head Coach has been a brilliant experience, working with outstanding players, coaches, and management," said Blair to the club's official website.

"It is also an all-consuming job, which I have given everything to since being appointed and I’ve learnt a lot about myself and the game during this period.

"This will be invaluable going forward as I look to continue my development, whilst not ruling out a return to a Head Coach role in the future.

“Edinburgh Rugby and Scottish Rugby have been incredibly supportive and patient with me while I came to this decision, which I am very grateful for. It has been humbling to lead my home club, so it was an incredibly difficult decision to make."

Blair had worked with Ponteland, Glasgow Warriors and Scotland as assistant coach before joining Edinburgh. He also had represented Scotland 85 times and featured for Edinburgh in 169 games while also captaining them.