WATSONIANS have swooped to land recently retired Scotland flanker Donnie Macfadyen as their forwards coach for next season.
The 11-times capped Macfadyen, 28, will be linking up with former Scottish Schools team-mate Bruce Aitchison who has taken over as head coach.
Aitchison, a PE teacher at Tynecastle High whose coaching expertise includes working with Hong Kong age-
group international sides, said: "I first met Donnie when I was captaining Gala Academy and he was skippering Edinburgh Academy.
"We became team-mates at schools representative level and kept in touch so that when I heard his playing career had been cut short through injury I set up a meeting.
"The get-together turned into a two-hour chat as we began planning for Watsonians next season.
"We are both young and ambitious in looking to see the club do well especially under new laws to be introduced next season."
Law variations include backs not being allowed to encroach within five yards of scrums while handling in rucks is also to be allowed.
Aitchison added: "When some of these laws were trialled in Scotland last season Watsonians won the Super Cup at stake in the competition and we will be looking to build on that.
"I came into the Watsonian set-up halfway through last season and count myself flattered to be given the chance to carry on the good work of Cammy Mather who is leaving to pursue other rugby targets."
Macfadyen, who is also expected to combine additional studies with a role as strength and conditioning coach at Edinburgh Rugby, is currently preparing for his wedding this weekend.
But Brian Drinkwater, newly-elected president of Watsonians, is confident the new coaching combination will succeed when pre-season training begins shortly.
Confirming Macfadyen's appointment, he said: "Donnie can be relied on to put a lot of emphasis on strength and fitness.
"He will bring with him from Glasgow Rugby a hard edge and the professional player's focus on winning."
Meanwhile, Watsonians are expected to launch preparations for the Scottish Hydro Electric Premiership season with a two-match tour of Yorkshire and have already recruited former player Jamie Blackwood back from Rotherham.
• LASSWADE have snapped up former Rotherham and Watsonian utility player Bernie Hennessy.
The full article contains 381 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
