Mallinder leaves England for ‘pivotal’ Scotland role

Jim Mallinder has left his England role for an opportunity with Scotland that he said was too good to turn down.

Mallinder joined the Rugby Football Union (RFU) as the performance pathway coach in June 2018 and was tipped as a potential replacement for Eddie Jones when the England coach’s contract expires in 2021.

However, on Friday he was named as Scottish Rugby’s new performance director after Scott Johnson left for Australia in April.

Mallinder led Northampton Saints to the final of the European Champions Cup in 2011 and to Premiership glory three years later.

The former Sale Sharks and England Saxons coach also oversaw an England XV in a 51-43 success against the Barbarians at Twickenham in June.

“I’m sad to be leaving the RFU as I’ve really enjoyed my time here, in particular getting to work with some fantastic people in a wide range of roles within the men’s pathway. I will miss working with them all but this was an opportunity that I couldn’t refuse,” said Mallinder.

“It’s a chance to lead a long-term programme, work with talented people, and I’m looking forward to moving up to Scotland and getting started.”

Scottish Rugby chief executive Mark Dodson said: “I am delighted to have secured Jim in what is a pivotal and vital role within our high-performance structure.

“He has a proven track record of developing players across a range of different career stages and I want him to strengthen and deepen the pathway our players will take into the professional game and develop the skills and behaviours they will need to succeed at their respective highest levels.”

KEO.co.za News wire is powered by opta