Lineen to continue as Scots under-20 coach

SEAN Lineen has been confirmed as Scotland under-20 coach for their forthcoming RBS Six Nations campaign, and will continue in that role unless the SRU decides to make him head coach of the senior team following the recent departure of Andy Robinson.
By The Newsroom
Published 6th Dec 2012, 00:00 BST

SEAN Lineen has been confirmed as Scotland under-20 coach for their forthcoming RBS Six Nations campaign, and will continue in that role unless the SRU decides to make him head coach of the senior team following the recent departure of Andy Robinson.

SRU chief executive Mark Dodson reiterated this week that an interim coach may be appointed until a long-term successor to Robinson is found. That would effectively mean the new man taking charge of Scotland for the Six Nations – with the position to be assessed again at the end of the campaign.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Former Glasgow coach Lineen is one of several strong candidates for such a role, along with existing assistant coach Scott Johnson but, in the meantime, the SRU has named the former Scotland international as their head coach of the under-20s in a list of appointments issued yesterday. Lineen will be assisted by Simon Cross of Edinburgh Accies and Melrose No 2 John Dalziel.

It is the absence of Melrose’s No 1 coach Craig Chalmers in the list that has raised eyebrows, however. Chalmers was viewed as a leading contender for the club international coaching role, vacated by Ally Donaldson after a four-year reign but he has been overlooked – with the post instead handed to Hawick’s Phil Leck.

The SRU has also confirmed the dates and venues for the upcoming age-grade and representative fixtures to be played at home this season.

Among the highlights will be a trip to Inverness for Scotland under-20s, when they play Wales in the Highland capital in the RBS Six Nations in March.

FIXTURES

Scotland Under-20s

Fri 8 Feb: v Italy U20, Netherdale (7.30pm)

Fri 22 Feb: v Ireland U20, Netherdale (7.30pm)

Fri 8 Mar: v Wales U20, Inverness (7.35pm)

Scotland Women

Sun 10 Feb: v Italy, Mayfield, Dundee (2pm)

Sat 23 Feb: v Ireland, Lasswade (2pm)

Sun 10 March: v Wales, Scotstoun (2pm)

Club International

Fri, 8 March: v Ulster Bank Club 
International, Millbrae, (7.30pm)

Scotland U18

Sun, 19 March: v Ireland, Hamilton (12 noon)

International Appointments

Club International: Phil Leck (Hawick) – head coach; Graeme Young (Stirling County) – assistant coach
Scotland U20: Sean Lineen – head coach; Simon Cross (Edinburgh Accies) – assistant coach; John Dalziel (Melrose) – Assistant Coach
U18: Eddie Pollock – head coach; Alex Duncan (Aberdeen Grammar) – assistant coach; Gordon Henderson – assistant coach; Ben Fisher – CPD coach.
U17: Peter Laverie (Ayr) – head coach; Colin Robertson (Strathmore) – assistant coach; Chris Dewsnap – CPD coach.

U16: Gary Mercer – head coach;Jamie Dempsey (Glasgow Hawks) – assistant coach; Roddy Deans (Stewart’s-Melville College) – assistant coach
Women: Karen Findlay (Richmond) – head coach; Chris Reid – assistant coach; Scott Forrest (Cambuslang) – assistant coach

U20: Jules Murciano (Murrayfield Wanderers) – head coach, Donna Kennedy (Worcester) – assistant coach