Shade Munro named new coach of Scotland Women's team

Glasgow Warriors assistant coach Shade Munro has been named as the new head coach of the Scotland Women's team.

Munro, who won seven Scotland caps during his playing career, will start work this summer and brings 18 years of coaching experience to the role.

Scotland finished bottom of the Six Nations table this season, scoring only 27 points in their six games and conceding 227, 73 of them in a defeat against champions Ireland.

The 48-year-old, who was a lock forward, has worked his way up the coaching ladder since retiring in 1997. He started out with the Glasgow Hawks before moving on to the Warriors in 2002.

Munro also has international coaching experience as part of the Scotland set-up and he helped Scotland A beat their England equivalents for the first time south of the border in 2013.

He said: "I've got a lot of experience in professional rugby and I'm keen to bring that to the women's game, to link the two and move the team on. I'm really looking forward to the challenge.

"The aspect I'm personally looking forward to is being in a position to head up the operation – to be a head coach of a national squad is something I've wanted to do for a while. This gives me the opportunity to do so and see how I can bring the skills I have into a different playing environment.

"I'll be able to take stock of the women's game and look at all aspects – from the club coaches to the strength and conditioners to the team itself – and working in conjunction with Sheila (Begbie, Head of Women and Girls' Rugby), to bring a different edge to the national team programme.

"I'll be coming in with a blank sheet and no preconceived ideas so it's a fresh start for the players as well as me.”