Scotland Women appoint Irish Grand Slam winner
The man who led Ireland to a historic Grand Slam in 2013 and semi-finals of the World Cup the following year has been named Shade Munro’s successor as the new coach of Scotland Women.
Philip Doyle will take the reins with the target of driving the improving side on and achieving qualification for the 2021 World Cup in New Zealand.
The 54-year-old had two spells with the Irish side which yielded a Grand Slam in 2013 and a first ever win over a New Zealand side for one of the country’s teams in that 2014 World Cup.
He inherits a women’s team that contains promise despite the recent Six Nations whitewash which saw former Scotland lock and Glasgow coach Munro, pictured, decide it was time to move on after a spell in which he brought back a level of competitiveness and some famous victories.
Scotland Women had fallen far from the heady days of Donna Kennedy et al and the Grand Slam of 1998 when Munro took the job. They hadn’t won in the Six Nations since beating France in 2010 and any international since a victory over Sweden in the World Cup later that year.
From regular cricket-score hammerings, Munro reduced the losing margins substantially in his first year before, after 36 consecutive defeats in the tournament, guided the ladies to a famous 15-14 win over Wales at Broadwood in 2017. There was also a 14-12 win over Italy that year and an away win at Ireland in 2018.
After the disappointment of losing a two-legged play-off with Spain for qualification to the last Women’s World Cup in Ireland, Doyle’s primary aim will be success in next year’s European qualification tournament.
Doyle said: “I am very excited to take on this appointment and look forward to getting stuck in and getting to know the Scottish players.
“We don’t have long in real terms until the World Cup qualification process begins but I am confident that with some hard work we will have sufficient time to develop further in working towards this objective.”
Doyle’s contract initially runs until the end of the qualification period for the 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup when both parties will have an opportunity to review the role going forward.
The Europe qualification tournament will be held next September and also involve Italy, Ireland and the winner of a second-tier championship. The winners will qualify directly, with the runners-up offered a repechage route.
The SRU’S head of women and girls rugby, Gemma Fay, said: “I am delighted we have been able to secure a coach who has the experience and proven record of success in the women’s international game that Philip has.
“We are at an important momentinthescotlandwomen squad development cycle as we prepare for the World Cup qualification process and I believe that Philip has the right experience to be able to take us through this period and compete for a place in the tournament.”
Since stepping down from the Ireland Women coaching team in 2014, Doyle has continued to be active in coaching and has had roles at Ulster Women’s Rugby and Dublin’s famous Blackrock College.
SRU technical director Stephen Gemmell added: “Given where we are in the performance calendar it was important this group of players 2 Scotland Women had a disappointing Six Nations but will be aiming for success in next year’s European qualification tournament for the 2021 World Cup. could be led and developed by a coach with international experience ahead of the qualification phase of the Rugby World Cup. We wanted someone with a proven track record at this level and Philip’s achievements made him the outstanding candidate.”
Thelastwomen’ssixnations saw Scotland slip to disappointing home defeats by Italy, Wales and Ireland, and heavy away losses to France and England.
Earlier this month the SRU confirmed that the women’s team will travel for a historic mini tour of South Africa in September and October, playing a two-test series against the Springbok women in Cape Town. Mark Robertson, who won an Olympic silver medal with the Great Britain sevens team at Rio 2016, is to join French side Clermont Auvergne this summer as a strength and conditioning coach.
The former winger from Melrose, 34, retired from rugby in 2017 after a stellar Xv-a-side career and over 50 tournaments on the World Sevens Series circuit with Scotland, scoring over 100 tries.
He was a key member of the Team GB squad which won silver behind Fiji at the Olympics three years ago, along with fellow Scot Mark Bennett.
Now, after two years working in strength and conditioning within Scottish Rugby, he is to move to France to join the same club as fellow Borderer Greig Laidlaw.
“He will bring new skills and international experience that will enrich us as we continue to improve the physical preparation of our players,” said Sébastien Bourdin, head of physical preparation at Clermont.
“We are very eager to work together and this appointment will bring us a new approach and experience in terms of speed, frequency of support, repetition of high-intensity play and efforts that are specific to rugby sevens.
“The game continues to evolve and we believe Mark’s experience will be very good for us.”