Hulme handed Scotland fitness post

The Scottish Rugby Union has appointed Marty Hulme as full-time fitness coach to the national side. It is hoped he will assist former Leinster boss Matt Williams in transforming the team's fortunes.

The 46-year-old, who was previously performance director with Sale Sharks, has signed a four-year contract which will take him through the 2007 World Cup.

Hulme recently took charge of fitness preparations for the two-Test tour of South Africa and will work with the players for this year’s World Cup in Australia.

Scotland coach Ian McGeechan said: “With whatever team he has worked be it at club or international level in rugby union or rugby league, northern or southern hemisphere, Marty has an outstanding track record of setting new levels of fitness for elite athletes.

“Both Jim Telfer and I are delighted with the work Marty has done on a part-time basis over the last two years and that’s why we’ve appointed him to this full-time position.

“It will be a considerable boon for the Scotland players.”

Hulme is set to oversee the fitness of a squad of 32 players in Spala, near Warsaw in Poland next month

He said: “I’ve really enjoyed working at international level with the Scotland players.

“More than anything else I know that I can take these players to where they need to be, firstly for the World Cup and secondly through the RBS 6 Nations Championship and any other Test matches we play.”