​Ex-Melrose player Peter Horne joins Scottish national rugby team’s coaching set-up

​Head coach Gregor Townsend has recruited Horne, with the Greenyards club for the 2009/10 rugby season, as an assistant coach specialising in attack and contact.

That appointment follows ex-Gala and Border Reivers star Townsend drafting the 34-year-old into his coaching team on an ad-hoc basis for the Scots’ Six Nations and Rugby World Cup campaigns this year.

The former Scotland international, capped 45 times between 2013 and 2021, joins fellow assistant coaches Steve Tandy, John Dalziel and Pieter de Villiers, following the departure of New Zealander Brad Mooar, as they begin preparations for next year’s Six Nations.

Since retiring two years ago, Aberdeen-born Horne has been head coach at Fosroc Super Series side Ayrshire Bulls and an assistant coach at his old club Glasgow Warriors.

His other clubs during his playing days, besides Melrose and United Rugby Championship outfit Warriors, included Howe of Fife, Stirling County and Glasgow Hawks.

Horne said: “Coaching the Scotland team in the last year has been a privilege and a massive opportunity for me to work on the biggest stage.

“To have the chance to continue that in a full-time capacity is something I’m relishing.

“My time coaching with Ayrshire Bulls and Glasgow Warriors has helped me prepare for my experiences with the national team and I have taken a lot of learnings from the past year.

“Working with this talented group of players greatly motivates me as a coach, as does the potential of this squad.

“I can’t wait to meet up with the players and management in 2024 and make further progress.”

Townsend, 50, added: “Pete is a very talented coach and has a great relationship with the players.

“He has also complemented the dynamic within the coaching group since joining us at the start of the year and brings valuable insight.

“I have been very impressed with his coaching style and the ideas he brings to the table.

“He has brought a lot of value this year working with us, and for him to take on the role full-time will be of great benefit to the players.

“I look forward to working with him on the attack side of our game.”