Rugby Union: Scotland go for Morgan

IAN McGEECHAN'S successor as Scotland coach will be Douglas Morgan, it was announced by the Scottish Rugby Union yesterday, writes Bruce Gilmour. Morgan, previously the assistant coach to McGeechan, was always the likely choice although the impressive performance by David Johnston, who helped Scotland achieve six wins from seven games on their recent South Sea Islands tour must have brought the former Scotland centre into contention.

Richie Dixon, who was the forwards coach last season, becomes the assistant coach and Duncan Paterson continues as team manager. Yesterday Morgan, 46, said: 'I am naturally delighted and am looking forward to the challenge. It is the high point in my coaching career.'

Morgan had a distinguished playing career in international rugby. A scrum-half with Stewart's Melville FP, Morgan represented Scotland 21 times and played in the third and fourth Tests against New Zealand in 1977. In the fourth Test he scored all nine of the British Isles points.

Both Morgan and Dixon will again be part of the selection panel which for next season has been increased by two to eight. David Johnston, who will almost certainly be named as the A team coach, comes on to the panel along with Colin Fisher, the former Scotland and Waterloo hooker, David Leslie, the former Scotland captain and flanker, and Andy Little, who has been involved in the under-21 team. Fisher, Leslie and Little will be associate selectors, which means that they will not have a vote at selection meetings.