Bacterial infection ended Duncan Weir's Edinburgh dream

Weir, the 27-year-old stand-off, began last season as first choice number 10 at the Capital club before a groin injury curtailed things in October.

Jaco van der Walt was then joined and took his chance in the playmaker role while head coach Richard Cockerill agreed to sign another stand-off, Simon Hickey, for 2018/19 onwards.

As a result when Weir returned to full fitness in early 2019 he was told by Cockerill that he could leave in the summer and was even sent to Worcester Warriors on a  short-term loan before being recalled a injury cover.

Weir is now undergoing pre-season training with new club Worcester ahead of the upcoming campaign and has not given up hope of returning from the international wilderness to play for Scotland at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, but has spoken of just how bad things got for him during a spell last winter.

“I started the first few matches of the season, then I was battling along with a groin injury that got progressively worse,” the 27-times capped Scotland player stated.

“Being quite stubborn I tried to keep training and playing, but it came at a cost and I eventually agreed to have a steroid injection.

“It should have been a routine six week lay-off, but instead I picked up a bacterial infection from the injection that spread right through my pelvis and pretty much wasted away the lower half of my body.

“I was on crutches and could barely move out of bed.

“Eventually we worked out treatment and it ended up a four month lay-off, but I got back a bit late and Edinburgh had already signed Simon Hickey.

“All I have known is playing for Glasgow, Edinburgh and Scotland so it’s really exciting to come to Worcester and experience playing against different teams in different stadiums, it is a fresh start.”