Lineen To Help Lead Scotland A

Lineen To Help Lead Scotland A

Sean LineenPro-team coaches Andy Robinson and Sean Lineen are putting aside their Magners League and Heineken Cup rivalries to coach Scotland A.The head coaches of Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors respectively will join forces to pilot the fortunes of the A team this season.The announcement was made today by Scottish Rugby’s Chief Executive, Gordon McKie. He said: ‘the Scotland A team is of vital importance in extending the pool of players who are equipped to play at the highest level for the national team.Pro-team coaches Andy Robinson and Sean Lineen are putting aside their Magners League and Heineken Cup rivalries to coach Scotland A.The head coaches of Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors respectively will join forces to pilot the fortunes of the A team this season.The announcement was made today by Scottish Rugby’s Chief Executive, Gordon McKie. He said: ‘the Scotland A team is of vital importance in extending the pool of players who are equipped to play at the highest level for the national team.Andy and Sean understand international rugby and their experience and coaching acumen will be key ingredients in further developing our players for the toughest challenge.Robinson, appointed as Edinburgh coach earlier this autumn, having previously coached England and the British and Irish Lions, said: Im honoured to be asked and Im really looking forward to it. I see it as building upon what Im doing with Edinburgh._ It’s important for Scotland to have a strong A team.Lineen, who was involved in the interim Scotland coaching set-up in 2005 before taking on the head coach role at Glasgow, said: We need to ensure we have strength in depth and I look forward to working closely with Andy to build that.Scotland A are due to play two internationals during the Six Nations Championship – away to their Italian counterparts near Venice on Sunday 3 February; and against Ireland A at a venue still to be finalised later that month._ They will then compete in the Churchill Cup in North America in June 2008.Asked how he would react if Scotland A faced England A in the Churchill Cup Robinson said: Im there to prepare a side to win a game and that’s what Ill do._ Im a competitive person.Scotland coach Frank Hadden welcomed today’s announcement._ He said: Im delighted that two high profile coaches are getting together._ The development of potential Scotland players is something we take extremely seriously. I cannot think of two more appropriate guys to lead the progress of this exceedingly important team.ANDY ROBINSON (Edinburgh) Born 3/4/64 in Taunton. Andy Robinson OBE was appointed head coach of Edinburgh in October 2007. He was head coach of England from 2004-2006, having been part of their coaching staff from May 2000, helping them to their Rugby World Cup triumph in Australia in 2003._ Robinson was also part of the British and Irish Lions coaching staff in Australia in 2001 and New Zealand in 2005._ A former maths and PE teacher at Colston’s Collegiate in Bristol and King Edward’s School in Bath, Robinson joined the Bath club in 1986, eventually becoming club captain. As a player he was involved in seven English cup-winning teams, won eight caps for his country and toured Australia with the British and Irish Lions in 1989. On his retiral as a player he became Bath’s coach masterminding their 1998 European Cup triumph.International record: 8 caps – 1988-95.SEAN LINEEN (Glasgow Warriors) Born 25/12/61 in Auckland, New Zealand. Like most New Zealanders Sean started playing rugby as a bare-foot four-year-old and went on to play competitive rugby in the Auckland area. In the 1985/6 season he made his first journey to the UK, playing in Pontypool. The original Kilted Kiwi came to Scotland in October 1988 to play for BoroughmuirHe made his International debut on 21 January 1989 against Wales at Murrayfield aged 27 and went on to win 29 caps and was part of the victorious 1990 Grand Slam team before his final appearance for Scotland against Australia in June 1992. Following his international career Sean divided his time between coaching Boroughmuir – during which he was involved in both cup and league triumphs – and running the Scottish Rugby magazine. Sean was appointed assistant coach at Glasgow Rugby in April 2003 and has quickly brought his imprint to bear on the team’s imaginative back play. He took on the role of head coach of Glasgow Warriors in season 2005-06.International record: 29 caps – 1989-92.

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