THE HERALD REPORTS


NEIL DRYSDALE August 23 2008
Peter Wright, the director of rugby at Glasgow Hawks, has queried the recruitment of so many non-Scots to coaching roles in the Scottish Rugby Union hierarchy.

The former international prop, who recently stepped down from overseeing Scotland's under-19 squad, admits to being frustrated at the dearth of opportunities to progress up the ladder and expressed concerns about this week's appointment of the former All Black captain, Mike Brewer, and Ireland's Graham Steadman, to Frank Hadden's coaching staff.

"I am not blaming anybody for seeking jobs in Scotland, but there is no pathway for Scottish guys to advance to the highest level and I am honestly worried about where the next Scottish-born coach will come from to take charge of the national team," said Wright, whose new role at Hawks has not dampened his ambitions to become involved in professional rugby in the future.


"That is one of the reasons I walked away from the SRU set-up, because I just didn't think I was getting any opportunity to make progress and yet I think the union has to work with and develop the skills of the coaches in Scotland.

If I genuinely thought that we didn't have the talent, I wouldn't be raising this issue, but when you look at the quality of the coaches who are involved with the leading Premiership clubs, it seems strange that we should keep importing foreigners."

This article was posted on 23-Aug-2008, 07:05 by Hugh Barrow.