SRU turns to Australia again to recruit Matt Taylor as new defence coach

SCOTLAND will again turn to Australia for the latest recruit to their management team by appointing Matt Taylor of the Queensland Reds as the new defence coach.

He will replace Graham Steadman, whose contract expires at the end of the season and will not be renewed, as revealed by Scotland on Sunday last month.

Taylor is understood to have agreed terms with the Scottish Rugby Union and will step down in the summer as the Reds’ assistant coach. He will join fellow Aussie Scott Johnson in the Scotland coaching set-up.

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Johnson’s appointment was announced in December and he will join as “senior assistant” coach in time for the June tour to Australia, Fiji and Samoa.

As things stand Taylor is under contract to the Reds and as the regular Super 15 season doesn’t finish until the middle of July it is doubtful that he will be released to join the tour but he will certainly be in Scotland for the start of the 2012-13 season.

Taylor is an interesting character who already boasts a good understanding of Scottish rugby. He was born in Australia but spent much of his rugby career in Scotland, starting with Aberdeen Grammar, before enjoying professional spells with Edinburgh, the Borders and Newcastle Falcons. Along the way Taylor became a naturalised Scot and picked up three Scotland A caps in 2001-2 against Argentina, Italy and Fiji.

Those who played alongside him at Grammar recall a relatively lightweight flanker who made up in a fierce intelligence what he lacked in pounds and inches. A thinking man’s player who was always destined to make his mark as a coach.

“Grammar brought in a number of foreign players when Damien Reidy was coach,” remembers former Grammar player Colin Philips, “and Matt Taylor was amongst the best two of three that we had. He was never the biggest back row forward on the pitch but he was an intelligent player who punched well above his weight. He was definitely one of the good guys, quite quiet even.”

Taylor’s career has flourished in Brisbane where the Reds boast world class stars including half-backs Will Genia and Quade Cooper and won the Super Rugby title last season.