Scott gets national coaching role

Former Scotland hooker Stevie Scott has been appointed as a specialist line-out coach at all levels of the national game.

Former Scotland hooker Stevie Scott has been appointed as a specialist line-out coach at all levels of the national game.

The 35-year-old, who won 11 caps and played for both Edinburgh and Borders, ended his 18-year playing career last season after helping Gala win promotion to Scottish Hydro Electric Premiership Division Two.

Scott will work with the Scotland senior team, age-grade squads, the Scotland women's team and both pro-teams, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

“My decision to retire as a player is only really beginning to sink in. I want to concentrate on passing on my experience,” he said.

“It was only towards the end of my career that I started to think about the principles of line-out throwing, which is obviously a big part of a hooker's job.”

Scott's appointment can be seen as a direct response to the advent of rugby's experimental law variations.

“The experimental law variations are possibly putting a greater focus on the hooker hitting his jumper in the line-out at maximum height and we're working hard on hookers becoming more accurate,” he added.

Scott also has a responsibility to work as coach to National Academy players and to identify, train and deploy a team of specialist coaches to work throughout the country and assist in the development of throwing skills at all levels of the game.

While still a player, Scott became involved in coaching with the Pathway side, Berwickshire Thunder and at club level with Selkirk.

“Our aim in the specialist-skills department is to generate players whose skills in specific positions are finely honed,” said Grant McKelvey, Scottish Rugby's senior performance development manager, whose remit includes specialist coaching.

“Stevie has acquired his knowledge as a player and identified while he was playing that he wanted to put something back into the game.

“He volunteered as a coach while he was playing and we're now looking forward to him working with players and coaches at all levels of the game throughout the country to enhance throwing skills.”