Scottish Rugby Union close in on new coach

The SRU will interview a short-list of candidates for the vacant Scotland head coach position in the coming weeks – but Mike Brewer is out of the running.

Rugby chiefs have been thrilled with the standard of applicants to succeed Frank Hadden and are now preparing to move into the second phase of interviews.

Edinburgh head coach and former England boss Andy Robinson is the favourite to succeed Hadden, who left the post last month.

Robinson and Brewer were the only two candidates known to have applied for the role but others are apparently in the frame.

SRU chief executive Gordon McKie said: “The quality of the applicants has been first class and we are delighted to be moving into the second phase with our short-listed candidates.

“The second stage of interviews will take place over the coming weeks and will be led by the selection panel which includes Scottish rugby greats Gordon Bulloch, Andy Nicol and Andy Irvine.”

Brewer has decided to quit his post as Scotland forwards coach after failing to land the top job.

He said: “It has been an absolute pleasure to work at Scottish Rugby with so many committed and dedicated players, coaches and staff.

“I have always wanted to take the step up to head coach and having been unsuccessful in my application for the role of Scotland head coach I believe the time is right for me to pursue other roles.

“I would like to express my sincere thanks to everyone at Scottish Rugby for making me so welcome over the past year and I wish the new head coach and the team every success in the future as they plan for the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand in 2011.”

An SRU spokesman added: “Everyone at Scottish Rugby wishes Mike every success for the future and thanks him for his tremendous commitment.”