The Scotland Rugby Union has confirmed that it has "reached agreement with a new Scotland head coach," and, while it is keeping his identity secret for now, the man "is not a Scot and Australian Ewen McKenzie has emerged as front-runner," according to David Ferguson of the SCOTSMAN. The SRU has "struck a deal with a leading coach currently involved with a Super Rugby team" and has "agreed not to reveal his identity until the end of this month at the earliest." He "will not be involved with the summer tour to South Africa as the Super Rugby competition runs until a final at the start of August" and Scott Johnson, who will name the tour squad Tuesday, "will remain in charge alongside new forwards coach Jonathan Humphreys," while also taking up his new role as SRU Dir of Rugby. SRU CEO Mark Dodson said, "I am also delighted to be able to tell you that we have concluded our search for a head coach and we will be announcing that appointment in the next few weeks. That is also one of the key decisions in Scottish sport because this is a sport where we can be globally competitive. We’re happy that that structure is right" (SCOTSMAN, 5/6).
THINKING LOCALLY: In Glasgow, Roddy Duncan reported SRU chiefs Sunday night "vowed to splash the cash" after claiming rugby is the only team sport where Scotland is not "hopeless on the world stage." The claim was made by Dodson and backed up by Johnson. Dodson said, "We must invest in Scottish talent because it is the only team sport where we can be globally competitive." Johnson said, "Rugby is the one sport in which we can really compete but only if the systems are right. That is one of the big factors that attracted me to this job" (DAILY RECORD, 5/6).
