STEVIE SCOTT has left London Scottish to take on the coaching role with Romania, working under Andy Robinson.
The 46-year-old – who was capped 11 times for Scotland at hooker, and has had previous coaching spells with Edinburgh, the Scotland national team, Sale Sharks and the Utah Warriors – was appointed forwards coach for the Exiles club in July 2019, and elevated to head coach in April of last year.
The club is yet to take the field under Scott’s command. However, a dramatic cut in RFU funding for English Championship teams, compounded by the Covid crisis, means the game at that level is caught in a state of flux, and he has decided that the time is right to embrace a new challenge. He leaves with the blessing and best wishes of the club.
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“Stevie Scott is a young, aspirational UKCC level 4 qualified coach who has made a significant impact on London Scottish rugby in the last two years,” said London Scottish Chairman Malcolm Offord. “We were especially pleased that he chose to remain with us for a second season despite the unilateral RFU cuts to Championship funding this season which forced the Club to transition our rugby model from full-time professional in a day training environment at the Lensbury Club, to part-time with evening training at Maidenhead.
“However, given the diminishing prospects of any league rugby this season owing to the pandemic and, taking into consideration the worsening funding environment envisaged for the Championship in the medium term, it is quite understandable that Stevie has decided to move on and progress his coaching aspirations with Romanian National Rugby.
“We wish him every success in this new role as he helps Romania re-build on their proud rugby heritage.”
Scott added: “I would like to thank London Scottish for the last 18 months. It’s been a privilege and pleasure being involved in this Club with its strong and proud heritage. The opportunity to coach a group of players who have developed well through the Championship in such a tough league has been very rewarding.
“I would also like to thank all the staff and players at London Scottish for their support during my time at the Club and I wish them the best of luck in the future”.
“I am very pleased to be able to join the Romanian team, because the potential is huge and I want to help bring Romanian rugby back to the performances it managed in the past,” he told Romanian press earlier this week. “When we played for Scotland and heard about Romania we all thought about the strength of the pack. We all knew it was a team with a very strong group, a force.”
Stevie follows Rob Moffat and Richie Dixon in the re-building of Romanian rugby. C’mon Bull!
Good Luck Bull