Blair keeps Scottish captaincy

Mike Blair was today confirmed as Scotland captain for next month’s autumn internationals.

The Edinburgh scrum-half held on to the armband after skippering his country to Calcutta Cup victory over England earlier this year as well as their first Test win in Argentina in the summer.

Blair, 27, will lead Scotland out at Murrayfield against New Zealand on November 8 and South Africa a week later, as well as against Canada in Aberdeen the following Saturday.

The announcement was made today by head coach Frank Hadden, who also confirmed the International Rugby Board had clarified what access he will get to his squad prior to next month's games.

The Scottish Rugby Union had been at loggerheads with Premier Rugby – the umbrella organisation for Guinness Premiership clubs – over the release of players for Test matches.

The SRU sought intervention from the IRB, whose Regulation Committee have ruled Hadden can convene his squad on October 27, 12 days before the All Blacks clash.

It is a partial victory for the SRU, who had been lobbying for access two weeks prior to Tests, while Premier Rugby wanted a five-day release period.