Dundee HSFP have found their man to replace long-serving head coach Ian Rankin in Colin Robertson, the former Scotland Under-20 head coach.
Robertson, the Scottish Institute of Sport’s Network and High Performance manager, is still the only man to have coached all four of Scotland’s age group sides from Under-16 upwards.A former assistant coach at Mayfield, he returns to the club after over a decade working with the SIoS and the Scottish Rugby Union.
He was National Coaching Manager and National Academy coach when at Murrayfield, and remains part of the SRU’s High Performance Coach Programme. He is currently the Scotland Under-17 coach.
Dundee HSFP president Gerry Tosh, said: “I am delighted to welcome Colin back to Mayfield on behalf of the cub and feel sure we have the right man to lead us to great things in the ‘post-Ranks’ era.
“Ranks has been an exceptional servant and I am confident that Colin will be able to build on that success. We are looking forward to working closely with him.”
Robertson helped coach the club as far back as the 1990s and was delighted to accept the new post.
“I’m really looking forward to working with all the players, current and new, to build on what has been a tremendous few years under Ian Rankin,” he said.
“I know quite a few of the players from various national squads and national academy work, and hopefully that knowledge will come in useful.
“We will work hard on our speed of play and will look to develop a number of key game areas. Dundee have developed into one of the top clubs in Scotland, and got very close to winning the title last year, so our standards will remain high, both in preparation and work ethic.”
Rankin, who is quitting after a decade in charge at Mayfield to run for vice-president of the SRU, said he was pleased the club had found the right man.
“I know the club is extremely fortunate to have secured the services of a most able and experienced coach and I am confident that I leave the coaching in the best of hands,” he said.
Colin will be assisted by forwards’ specialist, JJ van der Esch, another long-serving club stalwart and by strength and conditioning expert Steve McMullan.