Breakdown specialist Gray returns to Scotland coaching team
Richie Gray will return to work with the Scotland coaching set-up as a contact consultant, it was confirmed yesterday. The former Gala captain will reprise the role he had during this year’s Six Nations when he was on a short-term contract.
Gray stayed on for some of the summer Test preparations before returning to South Africa to help with the Olympic build-up of the ‘Blitzboks’ sevens team.
The Scot had previously spent two years working as breakdown coach for the Springboks from 2013 to 2015, working under then coach Heyneke Meyer, helping them to a third-place finish at last year’s World Cup after beating Scotland in the pool stage.
The former Border Reivers and Scotland age-grade player has carved out a respected reptutation for himself in one of the sport’s key areas.
He was a Scottish Rugby employee between 1994 and 2006, when he worked as a development manager, academy manager and coach to various Scotland age-grade sides, the South of Scotland, Gala and Biggar RFC.
Gray also invented the ‘Collision King’ and has patented other training aids which are marketed worldwide by the Rhino company.
He will now join up with Vern Cotter’s coaching staff, working particularly closely with defence coach Matt Taylor, for the 2016-17 season, and be involved throughout the upcoming autumn Test series in November against Australia, Argentina and Georgia and next year’s Six Nations campaign.