Scottish Rugby
Scotland pursue new Sevens coach
ESPN Staff
July 24, 2012
Graham Shiel will take on a skills and analysis role with the SRU © PA Photos
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Scottish Rugby have launched the search for a new Sevens boss with current coach Graham Shiel effectively demoted.

Shiel will now take on a role focusing on skills and analysis with the Scottish Rugby Union looking to bring in a specialist with the Sevens World Cup just a year away. The SRU's head of performance development Stephen Gemmell took on a more prominent and powerful role during the recent competition in Portugal and high performance director Graham Lowe revealed the reasons behind their decision to pursue a new coach.

"As part of our ongoing review of sevens, and having discussed with the sevens management team, we have decided to bolster the group," Lowe said. "Our current coach, Graham Shiel, will remain with the sevens management group, focusing on skills and analysis, and we are now looking to recruit a head coach and programme manager to work alongside Graham to drive forward our sevens programme and the performances of the national sevens team.

"This will be a global recruitment search to ensure we get the best candidate for the role. Since the decision was taken to re-admit rugby to the Olympics with effect from the 2016 Games in Rio, the emphasis being placed on sevens by countries worldwide has been phenomenal.

"We are very proud that the game invented in Melrose is now such a catalyst for the global expansion of rugby union and we are determined that Scotland should be competitive in international sevens, especially with the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on the horizon, where sevens will be one of the core sports."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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