Greig Laidlaw joins ex-teammate at renowned Scottish rugby nursery

Former Scotland captain Greig Laidlaw has joined Merchiston Castle School’s newly expanded elite rugby coaching programme, linking up with a group of former and current professional players at the Edinburgh school.

The storied half-back won 76 caps and scored over 700 international points for Scotland, captaining his country through the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

A British & Irish Lions tourist in 2017, he played professionally for Edinburgh, Gloucester, Clermont and Kobe, amassing more than 300 senior appearances across major competitions.

The 40-year-old is part of a revamped coaching team that includes Scotland internationals Magnus Bradbury and Jamie Dobie, alongside Rob Carmichael and player development coach Jamie McCaig. The intake also reunites several former Merchiston pupils, with Bradbury and Dobie returning to their old school.

The overhaul is being led by newly appointed Director of Rugby and High Performance Jack Moran, who arrives from Bradford Grammar School with experience across academy and professional environments.

Merchiston says the programme will give pupils access to elite-level coaching and performance development within the school system, as it looks to strengthen its reputation as a leading pathway into the professional game.

Director of Sport Nick De Luca said bringing together current and former internationals would create “an ambitious environment for young players”.

“This is a hugely exciting moment for Merchiston Rugby and a major investment in the opportunities and experiences available to our boys. Bringing together coaches and mentors who are current and former internationals creates an incredibly ambitious environment for young players.

“To have Jack Moran as our new Director of Rugby is especially exciting, given his experience, ambition and proven track record in developing young athletes.

“We’re also incredibly proud to see former Merchiston pupils like Magnus Bradbury and Jamie Dobie returning to support the next generation coming through the school. They are brilliant examples of the pathway from Merchiston into the professional game and are exceptional role models to our pupils, demonstrating the standards, ambition and values we want our boys to aspire to.

“The new rugby coaching programme is made of people who care deeply about developing young men, not just rugby players. That combination of high performance, strong values and outstanding support is what makes Merchiston special.”