Rugby: Internationalists boost Heriot's title charge

Published on Friday 19 June 2009 10:04

HERIOT'S have added two current Edinburgh professionals to their coaching panel as they gear up for a Scottish Premiership title bid and a crack at the new British and Irish rugby cup next season.

Current A internationalists Jim Thompson and Scott Newlands approached their old club and asked for an opportunity to break into coaching at second-team level, head coach Bob McKillop has revealed.

"We are delighted that so many of the Edinburgh squad will be passing on their expertise given that John Houston remains as backs coach to the first team," he said. "Taking into account the contributions of Roddy Deans and David Short we are well set up for what will be a tough campaign which includes a pre-season friendly against the touring Munster Under-20 side on August 22. We have recruited a new South African fitness coach, Sean Joffe, and the lads have been in the gym four times a week."

Meanwhile, just 24 hours after current SRU president Jim Stevenson called for more money to be spent on grass-roots rugby, it has emerged that one of his predecessors is slamming the current administration over its attitude towards the bread-and-butter club scene.

Selkirk's Bert Duffy, president in 2004-05, has told the Walkerburn club dinner: "We have been let down by the administrators due to the lack of feeling for the game at our level.

"The year that I was president, I travelled the length and breadth of Scotland and was confronted with the same problems.

"The governing body has to have a serious rethink on how it handles the game at this level. They should allow flexibility among clubs who all agree to solve the problem by playing uncontested scrums and play men short.

"It must be frustrating for coaches and players to have games called off on a Friday. You just need to look at the results and see how many games that are off," Duffy went on. "All the guys want on a Saturday is to play – plus it keeps the club spirits up and the treasurers happy as they need the cash to run the club."