Gilbert accepts Borders coaching role
January 12, 2002

The long running saga concerning former New Zealand assistant coach Tony Gilbert's appointment as head coach of the new Scottish Borders professional team has ended with him accepting the post officially.

Gilbert, 58, has signed until May 2004 and will oversee the inauguration of the third professional team in Scotland from next season.

Now Scotland director of rugby Jim Telfer believes the appointment will bring enormous benefit to the fledgling Borders team.

"Tony will bring a wealth of experience from the very highest levels of the professional game to Scottish rugby," said Telfer.

"I'm pleased that the new pro-team in the Borders and Scottish rugby overall will benefit from the knowledge and experience that Tony will bring.

"I hope that he will arrive here as early as the first week in February and I know he's itching to get started.

"I'm sure Tony will feel at home in the Borders because he comes from a country area of the Otago province.

"When he was here at the end of last year he found the terrain similar and the people in the Borders very friendly.

"I think the fact that the Borders is steeped in rugby was very much a selling point for him."

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