Robinson named Scotland coach
Andy Robinson appointed new Scotland rugby union head coach
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Thursday, 04, Jun 2009 10:07
Edinburgh's Andy Robinson has been appointed as the new rugby union head coach of Scotland, it has been announced.
Robinson, who coached the England international side between 2004 and 2006 after spending four years as Sir Clive Woodward's assistant, said he is "greatly honoured" by the opportunity.
He is promoted to the role having spent the last two seasons at Edinburgh, guiding the club to a record second-place finish in the Magners League during the 2008/09 season.
"This is a wonderful opportunity for me to get back into Test rugby," said Robinson, who also worked alongside his predecessor, Frank Hadden, with the Scotland A side.
"I have enjoyed being part of the national and A team set-up in Scotland in the past two seasons and working with the players has fuelled my optimism.
"I am confident that I can take them and the national team onto bigger and better things."
Robinson will be tasked with building towards the World Cup in New Zealand in 2011, although he takes on a side that endured another difficult Six Nations campaign in 2009 with only one win from their five games.
However, he stated: "I believe we have a crop of players who can really challenge the world's best and preparation for that starts now.
"I'm looking forward to leading Scotland A into the IRB Nations Cup in Romania next week and thereafter preparing for our autumn Tests at Murrayfield against Fiji, Australia and Argentina.
"I am very proud to be taking up the Scotland head coach role and I can assure all our supporters both at home and abroad that I will be doing everything I possibly can to bring success to the national team."
The chief executive of Scottish Rugby, Gordon McKie, has hailed Robinson's appointment.
"We are absolutely delighted that we have secured Andy Robinson as the new head coach for Scotland," he said.
"Andy is an ambitious and highly committed coach and I am confident that he will bring success to Scotland."
Robinson's opening match will be against Fiji in the first of three autumn internationals at Murrayfield in November this year.