Sean Lineen calls on Glasgow players to cap ‘special’ season

GLASGOW head coach Sean Lineen has urged his team to make this a season to remember as he prepares to leave the club after nine years for a new post with the SRU.

Lineen was told only last week that the SRU wanted to replace him at the Warriors helm with Gregor Townsend, to bring a change of direction after Lineen’s six years as head coach and three as assistant. Shade Munro will remain as forwards coach and the current Queensland Reds’ defence coach, Matt Taylor, who played for the Borders with Townsend and Scotland ‘A’, will replace Gary Mercer.

However, Lineen spoke to the players yesterday, after the news was revealed by Scotland on Sunday at the weekend, and reassured them that it would merely strengthen his resolve to lead them to the RaboDirect PRO12 play-offs for the second time in three years.

He said: “My focus is still firmly on the last, hopefully, seven games [including semi-final and final] with Glasgow, and I told them that that has to remain the focus.

“It never is [easy to leave]. The timing’s not ideal, but it’s something you’ve got to be deal with it. Coaches come and go; that’s just the way it is. Last week I was called into the office and told I would not be head coach next season ‘but here’s an opportunity for you’, and once you get your head around it you’ve got to then move on and look at what we first need to do with the Warriors for the end of this season.

“I do enjoy speaking to players and one of the main parts of this [Head of Player Acquisitions] job is selling Scottish rugby to players around the world, which is something I’m very passionate about. It’s a huge job. It’s inside Scotland, but also England, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand so it’s something I’m really keen on.”

He added: “I’ve had nine years at Glasgow, and the last six as head coach, and I’ve loved every minute of it. I had that opportunity and Gregor’s getting the opportunity now, and I think he’s inheriting the strongest-ever Glasgow squad going forward. He’s also inheriting a fantastic staff.

“It’s an exciting time. We’ve got a little work to do in the next wee while, with contracts too with a couple more players, but it’s all about Aironi a week on Friday which is where our focus has to be.”