Andy Robinson named as Scotland rugby coach

FORMER England boss Andy Robinson was today unveiled as the new Scotland head coach.

He succeeds Frank Hadden, who stood down two months ago after four years in charge in the wake of another disappointing RBS 6 Nations.

Robinson, 45, leaves his role as head coach of Edinburgh, where he has been in charge for almost two seasons.

He will be tasked with reviving Scotland's dwindling fortunes, with Hadden having managed just one Six Nations win in each of the last three championships.

Robinson has been given time to achieve that aim after signing a three-year contract.

Speaking at a press conference at Murrayfield this afternoon, Robinson said: "I'm delighted and honoured to be appointed head coach of Scotland.

"I've worked in Scotland now for 18 months and I've been really impressed by the attitude and potential of Scotland's rugby players.

"I'm now looking forward to developing that attitude and potential into winning performances."

As well as working with many current Scotland internationals at Edinburgh, Robinson has been involved in the national team set-up for some time.

He was an assistant to Hadden during last summer's tour to Argentina and has taken charge of the A team on more than one occasion.

Indeed, he will lead the squad during the IRB Nations Cup in Romania, which begins next week.

The Scottish Rugby Union were keen to have a new man in place ahead of that three-match tour.

Robinson was one of a number of candidates interviewed by a five-man SRU panel, which included former Scotland and Lions stars Andy Irvine, Andy Nicol and Gordon Bulloch.

SRU chief executive Gordon McKie and chairman Alan Munro were also on the panel.

McKie revealed there were more than 30 applications from around the world for the role, which was eventually whittled down to a shortlist of three or four.

Reports claimed South Africa's World Cup-winning coach Jake White and former Australia boss Eddie Jones were also candidates, although it is unclear whether this was the case.

Robinson and Mike Brewer were the only two confirmed applicants, though Brewer later withdrew from the race and quit his post as Scotland forwards coach.

Robinson took his time before deciding to put his name forward, leaving it right until the April 20 deadline before applying.

He is tainted somewhat by his disastrous two-year spell as England boss, which saw him win just nine of his 22 Tests.

But either side of that he has enjoyed no shortage of success.

A former flanker for both Bath and England, he led the west country side to the Heineken Cup in his first season in charge in 1998.

He went on to become forwards coach with England and was credited with playing a huge part in their 2003 World Cup win.

Since taking over at Edinburgh in 2007, he has twice led them to their highest-ever Magners League finish – fourth last season and second this year.