Cairns to trailblaze for SRU’s super six

FORMER Scotland international Ben Cairns was yesterday announced as one of the new head coaches for the SRU’s controversial ‘Super Six’ league. The 33-year-old, who was capped eight times for his country, is to leave amateur club Currie Chieftains to be a full-time professional boss at Stirling County. After a number of false starts through the years, the SRU have signed agreements with all the clubs involved and given a guarantee they will help fund the new set-up for at least five years. The successful Super Six head coaches include four from the Tennent’s Premiership: Peter Murchie (Ayr), Rob Chrystie (Melrose), Steve Lawrie (Watsonians) and Cairns. They are joined by Ciaran Beattie and Graham Shiel, who take up the roles at Heriot’s and Boroughmuir, respectively. Four of the six — Cairns, Murchie, Lawrie and Shiel — earned international honours for Scotland, while Beattie and Chrystie represented Scotland Sevens and Scotland A. Scottish Rugby said they were involved in the appointments in an advisory capacity, with the final decision on whom to recruit being decided by each club. The coaches will start from January 2019 and begin recruiting backroom staff and playing squads for the inaugural league campaign. ‘It’s always been a big ambition of mine to be a full-time coach and work at the highest level I can, and I’m delighted to get this opportunity through Stirling and in Scotland,’ said Cairns.