Selkirk head coach Scott Wight quitting at end of season to join Southern Knights

The 37-year-old is returning to Melrose’s Greenyards to coach the Knights’ backs next season.

Fellow former Melrose player Lewis Carmichael is staying on to coach the semi-professional side’s forwards.

Carmichael, 27, is the only one of former head coach Bruce Ruthven’s assistants left, ex-Scotland internationals Alan Tait and Ross Ford having moved on following his departure in October.

Erstwhile Glasgow Warriors stand-off Wight will leave Selkirk next year after four years in charge. His last scheduled fixture of the regular season is at home to Heriot’s Blues on Saturday, February 18, postponed from Saturday due to the Souters’ pitch being frozen, but the side, being fourth in the table, on 39 points from 13 games, are hoping to feature in the ensuing play-offs, as well as contesting 2023’s Border League final.

“I’m really looking forward to stepping up a level and testing myself at Super6,” said Wight.

“I’d like to thank Selkirk for the opportunity they have given me and the support they have offered in my development as a head coach.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge ahead and working with the coaching group and players in Super6.”

Ex-Edinburgh and Scotland lock Carmichael, with the Knights since their formation in 2019, said: “I’m delighted to have been given this opportunity to stay with the club as forwards coach.

“There are some new faces and exciting changes at the Knights and I’m really looking forward to 2023 and supporting the coaching group in putting together a really exciting squad and one that will hit the ground running for the start of pre-season.”

Knights director of rugby Rob Moffat added: “We are delighted that Scott and Lewis are joining the Knights as assistant coaches for next season.

“We feel that we will have an exciting coaching team that will help develop the players individually and collectively and we are all looking forward to the start of the new season.”

A replacement for Ruthven as head coach has yet to be announced.

Ruthven, 43, was the second gaffer in the Knights’ three-year history, having taken over from another ex-Melrose head coach, Rob Chrystie, now at Edinburgh’s academy, at the start of the year.

His exit followed the Borderers’ second-bottom finish in the Super6 championship last season after topping it the campaign before.

Ruthven oversaw one win and six defeats in this year’s Fosroc Super6 Sprint Series and two victories and eight defeats in the championship that followed.

A spokesperson for Selkirk said: “After four years here, our head coach Scott Wight will be taking up a new position as coach with semi-pro Super6 club Southern Knights. He will continue to coach at Philiphaugh until season 2022-23’s end.

“We wish Scott every success in his new challenge and thank him for his contribution to Selkirk.”