Gregor Townsend’s backroom team will follow him from Glasgow Warriors to Scotland while two of the national coaching team will make the return trip when Scottish Rugby’s musical chairs takes hold next June.
Townsend, confirmed last month as the new Scotland head coach from June, will retain Matt Taylor as assistant coach for defence. Dan McFarland, the Warriors’ forwards coach appointed at the beginning of last season, will also move across to be part of the national management team.
Meanwhile current Scotland forwards coach Jonathan Humphreys and attack coach Jason O’Halloran will join the new incoming Warriors head coach Dave Rennie at Scotstoun.
Taylor has been defence coach at Glasgow since 2012 and has also been Scotland’s defence coach over that spell, but this will be a full-time post. McFarland joined from Connacht but has also coached in Ireland’s international age-group set-up.
Townsend said: “I’m delighted to confirm the support of two hard-working coaches for the future national coaching group.
“I have known Matt since our playing days and he has developed into an outstanding Defence Coach since hanging up his boots, winning Super Rugby with the Reds and the PRO12 while at Glasgow.
“He is always striving to improve and it’s great that we’ll continue to learn together over the next few years.
“Dan has done a fantastic job since arriving at Glasgow last season, he is able to combine forensic detail from the technical side of the game with a love of learning and looking to bring out the best in his players.
“It’s great news that he’s joining us and I’m sure he will thrive in the international arena.”
Meanwhile O’Halloran and Humphreys have agreed terms to join Rennie at Glasgow. Humphreys has been forwards coach with the national team since Andy Robinson’s tenure while O’Halloran only joined the Scotland set-up as attack coach before the last Six Nations, when the national team scored the most tries since the 1999 campaign.
O’Halloran has worked with Rennie before in New Zealand provincial rugby at Manuwatu before Rennie became head coach of the Chiefs.