Mike Friday moves up at London Scottish

LONDON Scottish have appointed Mike Friday as director of rugby and former England international scrum-half Peter Richards as backs coach.

Mike Friday, left, is the Director of Rugby with Peter Richards coming on board as backs coach

Friday had previously worked alongside head coach James Buckland as backs coach and played a key role in helping the club finish fifth in the Greene King IPA Championship, their highest league placing in 15 years.

He has also enjoyed success on the international stage, coaching England Sevens to an unprecedented four successive Hong Kong Sevens victories and a silver medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

Friday also guided Kenya to fourth place in the 2013 RWC Sevens tournament and moved their ranking from 12th to fifth in the IRB World Sevens circuit.

Commenting on his new role, Friday said: “I am really pleased to be remaining at the club as Director of Rugby. I am looking forward to complementing the coaching team of James Buckland and Peter Richards, who are great coaches with ambition and talent.”

Richards, 36, enjoyed a successful playing career, winning the Heineken Cup and the Premiership (twice) at Wasps as well as the European Challenge Cup at Gloucester.

He earned 13 caps, playing in all of England’s 2007 World Cup matches, including the final against South Africa. Richards also helped England win the 2004 Hong Kong Sevens when Friday was at the helm.

He said: “I know James well from my playing days and Mike from the Sevens circuit, so it is a familiar environment for me. There seems to be plenty of pace in the backline and we have some exciting young players who can be developed.”