MALLINDER: SRU JOB WAS OFFER I COULDN’T REFUSE
THE SRU have pulled off a major coup by convincing Jim Mallinder to leave the RFU to take up a vital role at Murrayfield. The former Northampton Saints and Sale Sharks coach was one of the favourites to take over from Eddie Jones when he steps down as England head coach, which could be as soon as after the forthcoming World Cup in Japan. However, Mallinder has left his job as a senior pathway coach based at Twickenham to become the SRU’s new performance director. The 53-year-old takes over from Scott Johnson, who left his post after last season’s Six Nations. ‘This is an exciting role and one that gives me the chance to work with players at different stages of their development, all with the objective to make Scotland’s representative teams more successful,’ said Mallinder. ‘I am really impressed with the set-up in Scotland and having spoken at length with Mark Dodson, it was clear this was an outstanding opportunity to set the direction of travel for Scotland’s high-performance ambitions. It’s a chance to lead
a long-term programme, work with talented people. I’m looking forward to moving to Scotland and getting started. ‘I’m sad to be leaving the RFU — but this was an opportunity that I could not refuse.’
Mallinder, who was twice capped by England, has an impressive CV. He began his coaching career with Sale Sharks in 2001, leading them to their first Heineken Cup qualification in his opening season and first European silverware the following year when they lifted the Challenge Cup. In 2004, he moved to the RFU’s National Academy and coached the England Under-21 side to the 2006 Six Nations title. He then took over the England Saxons coaching role and oversaw an impressive record of 15 wins from 16 matches.
Mallinder was soon back in demand at club level and joined Northampton Saints in June 2007, winning promotion back into the Guinness Premiership at the first time of asking.
During his time in charge, they won the 2008-2009 European Challenge Cup, followed by the Anglo-Welsh cup the following year. Three years later, he became the first coach to take a team to the Heineken Cup final unbeaten through the pool stages before losing the final to Leinster. His Northampton team reached the Premiership final in 2012-13, losing to Leicester Tigers but went one better the following year by securing the English game’s top prize, the Premiership title, by beating Saracens in the final.
The club had won the Amlin Challenge Cup against Bath the previous week to cap a memorable season.
He left Northampton in December 2017 and became the England player pathway coach in June 2018. Scotland assistant head coach Mike Blair believes having someone of Mallinder’s experience involved at all levels at Murrayfield will be a massive boost. ‘Having been a former coach, Jim will have opinions on things but he’ll know when to step back and when to come in.
I think it will be a great appointment,’ said Blair. Scotland captain Greig Laidlaw believes having Mallinder around would help take the pressure away from head coach Gregor Townsend.
‘To have somebody in that role I think is vitally important,’ said Laidlaw. ‘Somebody like Gregor, he’s way too busy to be looking after the overall picture.’