CONSISTENCY THE KEY FOR SCOTLAND WOMEN'S NEW MANAGEMENT
Posted: 29/Sep/08
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The SWRU today announced two new recruits to the Scotland Women national management team.

Former Scotland Women's acting head coach, Jamie Dempsey, and new team manager Nicola McGaughey join the national set-up having both been brought through the ranks in Scottish Rugby.

Dempsey, who worked as a Scottish Rugby development officer for six years and a performance development manager for three, joins as head coach while the experienced Nicola McGaughey becomes team manager having already managed the under-18s and the Scotland Womens development side.

Speaking at todays press conference, Dempsey said: "I am delighted to have been offered the role as head coach of the Scotland Womens team. Its a fantastic opportunity for me to coach at a senior national level, for the Scotland team to have a dedicated and consistent coaching practice in place for the important up-and-coming fixtures and, of course, for the long term development of the side.

At our recent tryouts we saw an improved standard of trialists which has brought some real competition for places in the squad - essential to getting the best out of the players in terms of training and performing."

Scotland Womens captain, Jilly McCord, said: Jamie has been working with the Women's squad for over a year now in the assistant head coach role, and more recently as acting head coach, so we are very pleased that he will continue in the post. He is an enthusiastic and motivating coach to work with and I know that all the players are delighted to have a coach of his calibre and commitment.

After a disappointing Six Nations last season Jamie took over for the European Championships where we won two out of three of our games. Further to that, Jamie has worked extremely hard with players over the summer months with skills and fitness. This continuity in coaching has already made a difference, and we are aiming to 'hit the ground running' in our autumn international against Kazakhstan.

Dempsey added: The Autumn International will be a big game for us. We must ensure we get our season off to a strong start to set us up for the Six Nations and World Cup qualification matches. All players in the squad are determined to improve on their performances from last year and with the squad and coaching set-up now in place we have the best opportunity of doing just that.

Jamie will now set about preparing the Scotland Womens squad for their first home autumn international against Kazakhstan in November, the 2009 6 Nations and the 2009 FIRA European competition, with overriding focus of qualification for the 2010 World Cup in England.

Following the national trials, the Scotland Womens national and national development squads are as follows:

Scotland Women Autumn test squad:
Heather Lockhart (Hillhead/Jordanhill), Sarah-Louise Walker (Watsonians), Beth Dickens (Murrayfield Wanderers), Jilly McCord (RHC), Joy Lyth (Murrayfield Wanderers), Louise Moffat (RHC), Lynne Reid (RHC), Sonia Cull (RHC), Louise Dalgleish (RHC), Erin Kerr (Richmond), Suzi Newton (Blaydon / Team Northumbria), Laura Steven (Murrayfield Wanderers), Cara Di Silva (RHC), Sarah Dixon (RHC), Lucy Millard (Murrayfield Wanderers), Ellen Beattie (Murrayfield Wanderers), Nicky McLeod (Edinburgh University), Ruth Slaven, Keri Holdsworth (Watsonians), Sarah Gill (Murrayfield Wanderers), Nicola Halfpenny (Melrose), Lynsey Douglas (Richmond), Vik Blakebrough (Richmond), Alison McDonald (RHC), Sarah Quick (Murrayfield Wanderers), Lynsey Wheeler (Blaydon/Team Northumbria)

This article was originally posted on 29-Sep-2008, 20:40 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 30-Sep-2008, 19:59.