At the very moment he thought his Glasgow Warriors career had ended, James Eddie was thrown what he considered "a lifeline." The all-action flanker/sometime lock's recklessly rumbustious style had made him very much a fans' favourite from the day he joined the club.
However, that popularity could not protect him when his coaches reluctantly decided that Scottish Rugby's young player of the year in 2006 was now surplus to requirements.
It was an understandable decision. For all that the previous summer's surgery seemed to have been successful on a left shoulder that had required two previous operations, the reality was that he had made only around 60 appearances in five seasons with the club.
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