Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Wigan coach in switch to Scots
SCOTTISH Rugby has announced the appointment of Wigan head coach Shaun Wane as high performance coach.
Wane has steered the Warriors t o t wo Super League titles but will cross codes to work with Scotland at the end of his contract, which expires at the end of the rugby league season.
It was announced in May that his seven-year spell in charge at Wigan would come to an end after the current campaign, and Scottish Rugby has now confirmed his appointment – which will see him work closely with coaches at all levels of the game on a consultancy basis.
Wane said: “I see this as a fantastic opportunity to not only impart what I have learnt over my career in rugby league as a player and coach, but also to learn myself from union and look to support the excellent work already being done in Scotland.”
The 53-year-old, who led the Warriors to two league titles, a Challenge Cup and a World Club Challenge v i c t o r y, w i l l focus on prioritising “defensive technique and understanding, handling and agility skills for front five forwards and mindset”, with a particular concentration on the BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academy.
He added: “The Scottish way of playing the game is fast, highly skilled and positive and that is something I want to contribute to.
“It is a fresh challenge for me but the chance to work across all the teams and age-grades, with the BT Sport Academy players, both male and female, was an opportunity I am excited to take.”
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend, said: “There is a lot we can learn from Shaun in both the technical side of the game as well as wider aspects of coaching.”