Scotland’s interim head coach Scott Johnson looks ever more likely to stay in position on a permanent basis after the appointment of a former deputy to be the national side’s forwards coach for the next two years.
Jonathan Humphreys, the former Wales captain, will join the Scotland management team ahead of this summer’s visit to South Africa to play in the quadrangular tournament with the Springboks, Samoa and Italy.
The 44-year-old replaces Dean Ryan, who coached the national team forwards on a temporary basis throughout the Six Nations on a sabbatical from his day job as a Sky Sports analyst. Ryan has since accepted a post to be Worcester’s director of rugby next season.
Humphreys won 35 caps for Wales, and has been forwards coach since at the Ospreys, the same club from where Johnson joined Scotland as assistant to Andy Robinson a year ago.
During Humphreys’ time at the Liberty Stadium the Ospreys won three Celtic League titles, the latest just last year.
Johnson succeeded Robinson as head coach after the Englishman resigned in the wake of the loss to Tonga in November. The Australian took the job on an interim basis encompassing the Six Nations and the summer tour, and led Scotland to two victories in the championship, their best performance since 2006.
The 50-year-old has been non-committal about staying on, but this appointment of a former lieutenant would suggest he will remain at Murrayfield, if not as head coach of the national side perhaps as a director of coaching.
Scottish Rugby’s chief executive Mark Dodson said: “Jonathan impresses us. He’s a very astute coach and when you look at the players he has nurtured to the very highest levels of the game then clearly he has much to offer.”
Humphreys said: “I’m very excited by the challenge of working with the Scotland players and management and building on the very solid foundations that are in place.
“I know Scott Johnson well from our time together at the Ospreys and it will be great to renew acquaintance with a man who has such a sharp rugby brain.”