Former Edinburgh and Scotland 'A' full-back Jim Thompson will return north next week with a heavy heart having been forced to retire from rugby, though he insists he has nothing but years of cherished memories fresh in his mind.
The 30-year-old former London Scottish player announced his retirement from the professional game yesterday having failed to overcome serious knee problems.
And the grandson of legendary commentator Bill McLaren has been looking back on eight years as a professional, including being an unused replacement for Scotland in 2010, with great pride.
"At the end of last season, I went in for a clean up operation on my left knee and, whilst they were doing that, the experts told me the knee was in a pretty bad condition," Thompson explained.
"I worked hard over the summer to rehabilitate my knee, but just before the pre-season match with Saracens I hurt my other knee and I was then told that it was in a pretty bad way, too.
"After much discussion with the experts, coaches, family and friends, I decided around Christmas to call it a day and now I am starting to refocus on my life and we are moving back to Edinburgh to settle."
After schooling at Dollar Academy and a season with Royal High Under-18s, Thompson joined up with cousin Rory Lawson at Heriot's in 2003 and became a key player at Goldenacre.
He joined Edinburgh on an academy contract in 2007 and season 2007/08 was a particular highlight for him.
"I played a number of times for Scotland Sevens that year, including in Hong Kong, and I also made my Edinburgh debut. Then in the summer of 2008, I played for Scotland 'A' at the Churchill Cup and managed to score a try on my debut," he recounts.
Thompson amassed 10 'A' caps for his country and in 2010 was on the bench for the full Scotland side when they played in Argentina.
He never got on to the field that day in Tucuman as Scotland won 24-16, but it is not something he dwells on, adding: "I got a lot closer to playing for my country than most and just being part of the squad was a great thrill. Obviously, I would have liked to have got on, but it was not to be and that is the nature of sport."
Thompson was part of the Edinburgh squad that reached the Heineken Cup semi-finals in 2011/12 and, after that season, he joined London Scottish.
Thompson has enjoyed his time with the Richmond-based club and is happy to leave them competing for a top-four place in the Greene King IPA English Championship.
Earlier this week marked five years since Bill McLaren passed away and Thompson is excited to be able to get more involved in the Foundation set-up in his grandfather's name in the coming months.
He said: "It is amazing how much love there still is for him throughout the rugby world and it really helps the family. The Bill McLaren Foundation is doing great things for charity and it is exciting to be a part of that."
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