Vern Cotter has signed an extension committing him to Scotland as a head coach until 2017, ending speculation that the New Zealander could be headed back to France.
Cotter has agreed another year in advance of the Rugby World Cup, with the Scots playing their first warm-up game for the tournament on Saturday against Ireland in Dublin. He first came to Murrayfield in the summer of last year, initially with encouraging results in the autumn test matches with victories over Argentina and Tonga.
However in the light of the team’s struggles in the spring’s Six Nations which eventually ended in a whitewash of five defeats, rumours emerged that Cotter was being courted to return to one of the big-spending clubs in France, where he spent a successful decade as head coach of Clermont-Auvergne.
Bordeaux-Begles were one of the club’s quoted as having an interest in hiring Cotter, but instead he has nailed his colours to Scotland past his original deal which expired at the end of the 2016 Six Nations.
“I’m really happy to be able to continue working with the players, the organisation, the Board, and everyone involved,” Cotter said.
“There are some talented players with some things to develop, and together we are focused on facing that challenge in what I think are exciting times for Scottish rugby all over.
“There’s a generation of players coming all the way from the new BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academies, Scotland under-20s and the pro clubs into the national team and I’m pleased to be part of that.”
Scotland’s rugby culture is strong, he believes.
“It’s important that passion is reflected in the performances of the national team,” he continued. “We take great pride in the honour that represents and, while it’s pleasing to be in a position to plan longer term, our focus is absolutely fixed on preparing for the Rugby World Cup.”
Scottish Rugby Chief Executive Mark Dodson, said that he believed Cotter’s effect on Scottish rugby would be felt increasingly in the next year.
“When we recruited him he was the outstanding candidate for the role and that view has not changed,” said Dodson.
“The work he is doing with our young, talented squad of players has taken the team forward and we can now deliver continuity for the national team well beyond the Rugby World Cup 2015.”
The Scots play in Dublin this week, Italy in Turin next week, the Azzuri at home at Murrayfield on August 22 and finally France on September 5 in Paris as part of their build-up to the Rugby World Cup.
The final squad for the tournament is named on September 1 and Scotland’s four pool games are against Japan at Gloucester (September 23), the USA in Leeds (September 27), culminating with South Africa (October 3) and Samoa (October 10), both at St James Park, Newcastle.