BRUCE RUTHVEN is returning to The Greenyards as a head coach of the ‘Club XV’ next season, switching back to the Borders club (where he previously made 196 appearances as a player) after a season coaching the Watsonians ‘Club XV’.
Ruthven’s day job is as the rugby co-ordinator at Erskine Stewart Melville College, and he has has experience coaching Scotland at age-grade level.
“Bruce’s rugby leadership and development credentials are second-to-none,” said Melrose joint Director of Rugby Rob Moffat. “We’re so happy to have him on board to spearhead the new coaching team. He is a local lad with a really impressive CV, a great deal of passion and an energy that we know will be contagious and inspirational.
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“We can’t wait for him to get stuck in and start getting the very best out of our talented and enthusiastic pool of players. I’m really looking forward to working closely with him and assisting with coaching.”
Ruthven will be assisted by Gordon Smith, who was his forwards coach at Watsonians last season, former 1st xv stalwart Graeme Dodds, who played 306 games for the club over 15 seasons, Bert Grigg and Dougie Dodds.