Former Scotland captain Mike Blair will join the rest of the Glasgow Warriors coaching team in making the switch to international duties but will be staying at Scotstoun as well from next season onwards.
Scotland’s most capped scrum-half will go with the full-time coaching group led by new head man Gregor Townsend on the summer tour to Australia, Singapore and Fiji and become Skills Coach to the national team.
That’s the same role the former Edinburgh and Brive player has at Scotstoun since he joined the coaching staff on his retirement from playing at the end of last season. Dan McFarland and Matt Taylor have already been confirmed as moving to Murrayfield with Townsend from Glasgow.
Blair will retain his present role with the Warriors under new head coach Dave Rennie outside the international windows, in a similar arrangement to that Taylor was used until he moves to BT Murrayfield full-time.
It’s been a swift rise for Blair but his influence as senior player in his last season and coach this season has been marked, specifically in the development of young scrum-half Ali Price who went from Warriors back-up to first choice Scotland 9 in less than a season.
Blair said: “I’m delighted to take on this role with Scotland at an exciting time in the team’s development. I’m fortunate that I am able to maintain my involvement with Glasgow Warriors, where I have been coaching a talented group of players in a hugely positive environment.
“Being a young coach, I feel very lucky to work with coaches of the calibre of Gregor and Dave and hope I can contribute to further successes for both Scotland and Glasgow on the pitch.”
Townsend added: “Mike has thrived as a coach since his retirement from playing at the end of last season. He’s proven to be an excellent addition to the Warriors’ backroom staff and I’m delighted to bring that expertise into the Scotland set-up.
“He will perform a similar role with the national team, which will be focused on three areas: assisting with our attack, improving our skills and also working closely with our group of scrum-halves.”
Glasgow also announced the departure od six more players who are out of contract after tomorrow’s season-ending 1872 Cup second leg against Edinburgh.
Most experienced among them is full back Peter Murchie, whp played 116 times for the Warriors and also won three Scotland caps in seven seasons with the club.
Wing Junior Bulumakau and centre Fraser Lyle are leaving, with Lyle likely to remain part of the Scotland 7s squad.
Namibian Tijuee Uanivi, Fijian Nemia Kenatale and stand-off Hagen Schulte are also leaving having spent just one season at Scotstoun.
