As revealed in this column earlier the Irvine Herald now reports

New coach for Marress Men
Apr 23 2010 by John Woods, Irvine Herald
IRVINE Rugby Club have appointed a new head coach in an attempt to bounce straight back into the Premiership.
After a disastrous season which saw the Marress Men end up firmly rooted to the foot of Premier 3 with just three wins to their name, the Maroons have snapped up Glasgow Hawks centre and former Zimbabwe international Ian Noble to head up what will be a completely revamped coaching department.
Bulawayo-born Noble has signed a three year agreement with the club, and was due to take up his post at Monday’s Annual General Meeting.
The 38-year-old represented Zimbabwe on six occasions, making his debut against Wales in Bulawayo in May 1993 before playing his final match for his country in Namibia the following year.
The six-foot centre scored three tries, eight conversions and ten penalties for a total of 61 points and was on the winning side twice.
He has represented his country at the Rugby Union World Cup, and also added to his international points tally while playing for South Africa at a Rugby League World Cup.
On the club scene Ian has played for, among others, Glasgow Hawks, Stirling County and South African province, Mpumalanga, and has previously coached Haddington, Glasgow Academy as well as a number of English sides.
He has already spoken to senior Marress committee members and, has submitted a list of players he would like to bring to Irvine as they try to climb back out of the National Leagues.
Incoming Irvine President Jim O'Neill said the club were delighted to have captured a coach of Ian’s stature.
“We are very pleased to have attracted Ian to Marress and that he has committed himself to returning Premiership Rugby with to Irvine,” said Jim.
“His record speaks for itself, and I look forward to a new coaching partnership between Ian and our own Alastair Thomson and Gary Gibson, who have guided the club through the difficult times of this last season.
“Together I am sure that our new coaching team will return the club to the level of rugby that we have all enjoyed over the past three years.”

This article was posted on 23-Apr-2010, 08:14 by Hugh Barrow.