Bradley named as new coach at Edinburgh in two-year deal

RUGBY:MICHAEL BRADLEY has been confirmed as the new coach at Edinburgh succeeding Australian Nick Scrivener who held the role in an interim capacity following the departure of Rob Moffat. The former Ireland scrumhalf will take up his first full-time appointment since stepping down as Connacht coach at the end of last season.

The 48-year-old Bradley had spent time working with the Georgian national team and Cork club Midleton as well as fulfilling a role of rugby analyst on BBC Northern Ireland television. He was chosen from a short list that is reported to have included outgoing Munster forwards coach Laurie Fisher and former Wasps director of rugby Tony Hanks.

Bradley won 40 caps for Ireland, captaining his country on 13 occasions. He played in two World Cups and was a member of Ireland’s Triple Crown-winning team in 1985. When his playing career finished he returned to his home club, Cork Constitution with whom he’d won various honours, to take over in a coaching capacity.

He was appointed head coach to the Ireland Under-21 team before accepting the position of head coach with Connacht in 2003. He guided the Irish province to three Amlin Challenge Cup semi-finals in his seven-year tenure before stepping down at the end of last season.

Bradley spent five years as coach to the Ireland A team, as an assistant coach to Niall O’Donovan on an Irish senior tour to Japan (2006) and was in charge of the national side for matches against the Barbarians, Australia and New Zealand in 2008 before Declan Kidney took over the mantle in a full-time capacity.

The Irishman, who takes over at the Scottish franchise on a two-year deal, following Edinburgh’s final Magners League match of the season against Benetton Treviso on Friday night admitted: “I’m honoured and delighted to have been offered the chance to become the head coach at Edinburgh Rugby. “I’m excited by the challenge of helping the club fulfil its potential, and I can’t wait to start working with what is a talented squad. I know a lot of the players from my years in the Magners League with Connacht, and I’m well aware of their capabilities. I’m looking forward to spending the summer getting to know the club and the job, so that we’re in a position to hit the ground running when the new campaign rolls round.”

Scottish Rugby chief executive Gordon McKie enthused: “This appointment marks the culmination of an extensive recruitment process which saw an extremely pleasing level of interest in the post from . . . excellent candidates. Michael impressed everyone involved in the interview process with his passion for the sport and for taking Edinburgh forward. He has a track record of inspiring players to achieve, and offers vast experience gained in a number of different environments.”

Scottish coach Andy Robinson also welcomed the appointment.

Meanwhile, Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin has named a 31-man squad for Freiday night’s crucial Magners League clash with the Dragons at Rodney Parade. He must plan without three Irish internationals, Paddy Wallace (thumb), Andrew Trimble (thumb), Stephen Ferris (knee) as well as former Springbok prop BJ Botha (knee). The Ulster team will be named tomorrow lunch-time.

ULSTER SQUAD: J Cronin, T Court, P McAllister, B Young, D Fitzpatrick, R Best, N Brady, A Kyriacou, D Tuohy, J Muller, N McComb, T Barker, P Wannenburg, TJ Anderson, W Faloon, C Henry, R Diack. R Pienaar, P Marshall, I Humphreys, P Jackson, I Whitten, N Spence, D Cave, M McCrea, S Danielli, T Seymour, C Gilroy, C Gaston, J Smith, A D’Arcy.