Scotland rugby union snap up Wigan coach Shaun Wane
Wigan boss Shaun Wane will join Scottish Rugby as high performance coach at the end of the season.
It was announced that Wane would leave the Warriors at the end of the season in May but his move to Scotland rugby union has now been confirmed.
Wane won two Super League Grand Finals, two Challenge Cups, a League Leaders Shield and a World Club Challenge while head coach of Wigan.
But Wane will switch codes at the end of the year. He will work closely with current Scottish elite coaches, at all levels of the game, on a consultancy basis.
His areas of focus in the 15-aside code will prioritise defensive technique and understanding, handling and agility skills for front five forwards and mindset, especially for players in the BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academy.
On his new job, Wane said: “I see this as a fantastic opportunity to not only impart what I have learnt over my career in rugby league as a player and coach, but also to learn myself from union and look to support the excellent work already being done in Scotland.
“The Scottish way of playing the game is fast, highly skilled and positive and that is something I want to contribute to and help develop further.
“It is a fresh challenge for me, but the chance to work across all the teams and age-grades, with the BT Sport Academy players, both male and female, was an opportunity I am excited to take.”
Scotland rugby union head coach Gregor Townsend said: “There is a lot we can learn from Shaun in both the technical side of the game as well as wider aspects of coaching.
“The range of skills now needed across the pitch in rugby union, aligned with the style of play we are developing means that all our players have to be able to pass accurately and deploy effective lines of running that will either hold defenders or find space.
“What Shaun brings from rugby league is immediately transferrable and will add real value.”
Wane will begin working with Scottish Rugby when his commitments at Wigan are concluded.