Young blood for Women’s backroom team

An extended Scotland Women squad gathered at BT Murrayfield at the weekend for their second camp of the season under recently-appointed head coach, Shade Munro, and welcomed new assistant coach, former Stirling County head coach, Graeme Young, to the team.Born to Scottish parents who emigrated to New Zealand, Young was keen to return to his homeland to meet his extended family. A former player for Otago and Wellington, he arrived in Scotland in 2000 and went on to play his rugby for Stirling County.Past coach of County’s under-18s and 2nd XV teams, he was with the Bridgehaugh club’s 1st XV for seven years and as head coach for the last four seasons.During Young’s tenure, County enjoyed their highest league finishes for 17 years, finishing fourth then third in consecutive seasons and he lead back-to-back British & Irish Cup campaigns, competing against teams from Neath, Bedford and Munster.Of this new direction in his coaching career Young said: “I’d been coaching Stirling County for seven years and decided to step down, have a break from that, but I was really keen to get involved in the international window.”I’d coached Scotland Club XV a couple of years ago so I sat down and spoke with Sean [Lineen] and with Shade, to hear him talk about his vision for the women’s game, and it seemed like a really exciting time – a time of change – to be involved and a great opportunity.”This weekend’s four-day camp, involving women from across Scotland, has given Young, who takes on the position on a part-time basis, the opportunity to assess the players and see the work already being done by Munro in his new role.Young said: “It’s been great to meet the players and to see where we are, strengths and weaknesses, developing the philosophy of how we want to play, with Shade, and start putting that into the team.”The attitude of the women has been phenomenal – all out early, they want to improve, they’re giving 110% to everything we do.”Watch the full interview with Graeme hereScotland Women extended training squad 18-21 September 2015ForwardsKaren Dunbar (RHC Cougars)Sammy Durnan (Stewarty RFC)Katie Dougan (RHC Cougars)Jemma Forsyth  (Hillhead Jordanhill)Jade Konkel *   (Hillhead Jordanhill)Heather Lockhart  (Hillhead Jordanhill)Louise McMillian *  (Hillhead Jordanhill)Sarah Quick (Murrayfield Wanderers)Lisa Robertson *  (Murrayfield Wanderers)Lucy Park *  (Murrayfield Wanderers)Lana Skeldon * (Melrose)Ruth Slaven  (Murrayfield Wanderers)Lindsey Smith (Hillhead Jordanhill)Catriona Syme  (Murrayfield Wanderers)Emma Wassell * (Murrayfield Wanderers)Jenny Johnstone (Hillhead Jordanhill)Tamsin Tyeson  (Hillhead Jordanhill) BacksClaire Bain  (RHC Cougars)Nuala Deans (Wasps)Abi Evans (Hillhead Jordanhill)Megan Gaffney (Hillhead Jordanhill)Nicola Halfpenny (Melrose)Lauren Harris (Melrose)Caitlin Harvey *  (Caithness/RHC Cougars)Gillian Inglis (Melrose)Hannah Illingworth  (Tynedale)Rhona Lloyd (Murrayfield Wanderers)Lisa Martin*  (Murrayfield Wanderers)Emily Irving (Ayr)Chloe Rollie *  (Melrose)Charlotte Runcie  (Lismore/Aberdeenshire Quines)Eilidh Sinclair *  (Murrayfield Wanderers)Lisa Thomson *  (Melrose) * BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academy Stage 2 players 2015-16