Bizarrely, even though Cairns was a contracted apprentice with Edinburgh, he his Celtic League debut by playing for Glasgow Warriors as a replacement while on loan for the match against Ospreys in January 2006.

Cairns was soon singled out as one of the young Scotland backs that may be able to break their distressing lack of creativity in the long-term after some sharp displays at regional level for Edinburgh in both the Magners League and Heineken Cup.

He was selected as Edinburgh captain for the first time in the League match against Newport Gwent Dragons in February 2008 and he responded with a try, underlining his growing importance to the team.

He suffered a pre-season knee injury with Edinburgh Rugby that ruled him out of the entire 2011–12 season, with his attention fixed on a 2012–13 return.

He went on to make his Scotland debut in the first Test loss to Argentina in June 2008 before playing a crucial part in the victory over the Pumas the following week tying the series one all.