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Sean Lineen quotes Clint Eastwood as he quits Scottish Rugby
Sean Lineen, the original ‘kilted Kiwi’ who was a key player in the 1990 Scotland Grand Slam win, has left Scottish Rugby after a stint of more than 30 years which saw him continue as a coach and administrator after hanging up his boots. Lineen, who celebrates his 60th birthday on Christmas Day, said: “For me, this has been a really hard decision. But it is the right time to leave.”
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Lineen departs at the conclusion of a review of the structure of the Scottish Rugby high-performance department, overseen by director of performance rugby Jim Mallinder, who is aligning the department to Scottish Rugby’s new three-year strategy launched earlier this year. This new strategy underpins the changes required within our high-performance structure to drive the professional game in Scotland forward over the next few years.
It is an amicable parting of the ways. “I have been involved in Scottish Rugby for a lifetime and I feel lucky and very privileged to have been involved in the game here, firstly as a player and coach with Boroughmuir, then with the national team in both roles and to have played for Edinburgh and coached Glasgow Warriors,” continued Lineen.
“I will always be hugely enthusiastic and passionate about Scottish Rugby – everyone knows that. There are so many good things going on just now: uppermost amongst them, the turbo-charging of investment into the pro-teams; and the improved links between our best young players, training and playing, with the pro-teams. And it’s all about creating and developing competitive environments.
“Over the last nine years, the work we have done to develop our young talent and the national age-grade programmes – not just with the under-20s but getting competitive programmes in place at U16, U17, and U19 – has been the right way to go, for coaches as well as players.
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“Since 2013 I’ve worked in my roles as head of international age-grade and then head of academies to bring the youngsters through a visible pathway and it is also been gratifying to see coaches like John Dalziel, Steve Lawrie, and Peter Murchie graduate from their experience with the U20s to posts with the national and pro-teams. “
Lineen, who was part of Frank Hadden’s national management team when Hadden became Scotland head coach in 2005, reflected that 17 of the 23 players on duty for Scotland’s opening victory of the 2021 Autumn Nations Series against Tonga were products of the national U20 set-up.
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Lineen intends to “take a wee breather” before deciding on his next steps. “I always remember the Clint Eastwood quote. At 91 he was asked: ‘What’s the secret to staying young?’ And his answer: ‘Don’t let the old man in.’ So, for me, I’ll be determined not to let the old man in. I feel physically and mentally very active. I love my cold-water swimming in the sea and I’m playing a lot of tennis (rubbish second serve) and cycling,” he explained.
A police officer in New Zealand before coming to Scotland, Lineen described that journey across the world as “the best decision I ever made in my life”, but he doesn’t dwell on the 1990 Grand Slam as a highlight. “First meeting my wife Lynne at an aerobics class that I went to with Norrie Rowan would be a definite highlight!
“Helping Glasgow Warriors to two play-offs in the then Magners League was absolutely massive and building the whole ‘Whatever it takes’ culture at Glasgow is something I look back on with immense pride. Keeping London Scottish up when I had been invited to be director of rugby there in 2016 and, since 2013, the work with Scotland under-20s.
“The win that we enjoyed in North Wales in March 2020 just before lockdown when we scored 50 points was special and to see the players and parents celebrate afterwards makes it so worthwhile.
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“Most of all I have met some fantastic people within the rugby family and in the last few weeks, I have been out and about. I was at the Dollar Academy vs Stewart’s-Melville school game, and I took a table of ten at hospitality at Heriot’s vs Highland in the Tennent’s National League Division 1 with some of my old friends to kick start my 60th.”
Director of performance rugby Mallinder added: “Sean has contributed a huge amount to Scottish Rugby over the last 30 plus years, first as a player, then as a coach. Over the last nine years, combining roles of coach and administrator, he has put his stamp on the development of our young talent and the national age-grade programmes. It has been a hard decision for him to make and he leaves with sincere thanks and affection from all corners of the game.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Lions might take him on if they move on Van Rooyen but I doubt he will want to go back, might consider it a step backwards for himself. Sharks would take him on but if Plumtree goes on to win the challenge cup they will keep him on. Also sharks showing some promising signs recently. Stormers and Bulls are stable and Springboks are already filled up. Quality coach though, interesting to see where he ends up
1 Go to commentsAnd the person responsible for creating a culture of accountability is?
2 Go to commentsMore useless words from Ben Smith -Please get another team to write about. SA really dont need your input, it suck anyway.
264 Go to commentsThis disgraceful episode must result in management and coach team sackings. A new manager with worse results than previous and the coaching staff need to coached. Awful massacre led by donkeys.
1 Go to commentsInteresting article with one glaring mistake. This sentence: “And between the top four nations right now, Ireland, France, South Africa, and New Zealand…” should read: And between the top four nations right now, South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand and France…”. Get it right wistful thinkers, its not that hard.
23 Go to commentsHow did Penny get the gig anyway?
2 Go to commentsNice write up Nick and I would have agreed a week ago. However as you would know Cale & co got absolutely monstered by the Blues back row of Sotutu, Ioane and Papaliti and not all of these 3 are guaranteed a start in the Black jumper. He may need to put some kgs before stepping up, Spring tour? After the week end Joe will be a bit more restless. Will need to pick a mobile tough pack for Wales and hope England does the right thing and bashes the ABs. I like your last paragraph but I would bring Swinton, Hannigan into the 6 role and Bobby V to 8
21 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can still get in to the Play Off’s. The imminent return of outstanding captain Scott Barrett and his All Black team mate Codie Taylor will be a big boost.There are others like Tamaiti Williams too. Two home games coming up. Fellow Crusader fans get there and support these guys. I will be.
1 Go to commentsCant get more Wellington than Proctor.
2 Go to commentsWhy not let the media decide. Like how they choose the head coach. Like most of us we entrust the rugby system to choose. A rugby team includes the coaches. It's collective.
13 Go to commentsHi NIck, I have been very impressed with him and he seems a smart player who can see opportunities which Bobby V _(who must be an international 6_) doesn’t see or have the speed to take advantage of. If he continues to improve and puts on 5kgs then he could be a great 8. He is a bit taller than Keiran Reid at 1.93m and 111 kgs, so his skill set fits his body size and who knows where it will lead. I hope the spate of Achilles tendon issues have been dealt with by the S&C people. It’s been a very long time since Mark Loane and Kefu stood out at 8. The question is will we be able to hold onto him, if he does make it he will be pretty hot property. I disagree with the idea of letting them go to the Northern Hemisphere and then bring them back.
21 Go to commentsBilly Fulton 🤣🤣🤣🤣 garrrmon not even close
13 Go to commentsDoes the AI take into account refs? hahaha Seriously why not have two on field refs to avoid bias?
23 Go to commentsVern challenging this Blues side might be the edge they need to fulfill their potential. Convincing results from strong D and strong carries are hard to argue against.
1 Go to commentsLove seems to add a strong back field defense with speed to close the gap and tackle to his ability to attack, kick and pass (an accurate long pass). This sets him an edge over some of the other names - JRK in particular. Has to be said that Jordan and Stevenson have also been exposed defensively while Love has yet to face test match intensity. Spoilt for choice.
1 Go to commentsHe’s strung together a few strong seasons, I’d like to see him in the ABs and build some depth along with Reiko and ALB. Levi Aumua hasn’t taken the step we hoped to see but time yet.
2 Go to commentsWhere has our good friend Pecos gone!? Similar place to the Crusaders D, the abyss.
4 Go to commentsNice piece Nick. I haven’t seen much of the brumbies this year so will keep my powder dry on charlie, but clearly has the speed and footwork to be damaging in space. Similar to Samu, I’d worry about the size of our pack if the likes of Mcreight and Cale were in the b/row together. Maybe Cale could play a similar finisher role like Samu did for Rennie’s wallabies. Has Cale leapfrogged wilson in your eyes? He obviously has the lineout, but harry probably better (although not great) in the physical stuff and also has great hands in the loose. You’d have to say mcreight and valetini are shoe-ins at 7/8, so the question becomes who matches best with them at 6 and on the bench. I don’t know if he has a high enough ceiling, but id love to see wright given a shot based on how much bad luck he has had with injuries. He may also fit that no-nonsense graft/work rate irish approach…? If schmidt wants size and a 4/6 tweener then I’d probably pick Uru. On the bench I’d have no idea, Wilson if you want to give valetini a rest, and maybe hanigan/wright/uru as 6 replacements.
21 Go to commentsWho the heck is Billy Fulton?
13 Go to commentsCale has all the potential no doubt. So has Harry Wilson except for his dumb arse coach over the last few years who told him just to run at brick walls all the time. Valentini would be devastating at 6. As he was until some idiot thought oh yeah, move our best player to another position. Not mentioning any flightless or thank you names of course. I very much dislike claiming one player is the saviour, because injuries are so prevalent in the game these days as the players are bigger and faster, so the discussion should be who are at least the best two players in one position. For me it’s Harry Wilson and Cale at 8 at the moment with Valentini or Hooper from the Brumbies at 6. Great options. Seru Uru should be in the reserves too. A game changer.
21 Go to comments