With 15 signings London Scottish have been one of the busiest Championship clubs this summer, but head coach Graham Steadman says Stevie Scott’s addition is the most important.
The former Scotland hooker has joined London Scottish as forwards coach for the 2019-20 Greene King IPA Championship season, which gets underway in early October.
The former Border Reivers and Edinburgh front rower, now 45, has coached at the SRU Academy, Sale Sharks and Scotland’s senior side, having won 11 caps in his playing days.
Steadman, speaking from the Greene King IPA Championship launch event at Twickenham Stadium ahead of the 2019/20 season, said: “With the addition of Stevie Scott we’re going to have more of an edge this season. He brings a wealth of experience and is a very knowledgeable guy.
“His demands are of the highest order and he will not take anything less than a player’s best and that is in all aspects 100 percent.
“On the back of that we’ll get into good habits which they’ll take into games and it’s probably the biggest signing I’ve made this season to be honest.
“It’s always interesting when you get a third of the squad turn around, the 15 guys I’ve brought in have settled in really well and we’re nine weeks into pre-season already.”
Having finished ninth last season it’s been a busy summer for Scottish, with the likes of Phil Cringle, Mark Bright and Lewis Wynne re-signing, and Alex Toolis and Kyle Whyte newly added.
Young flanker Wynne, 22, will skipper this season: “The forward pack we’re looking to improve. We want them to be dominant and to start games well with them.
“Stevie Scott coming in is a big thing. Him and Graham Steadman have worked together before and he’s come in and stamped his authority with what he wants. He’s a tough man and he’s really whipped us into shape.
“He’s implementing exactly what he wants to do. He wants a team who can be tough and dogged and do the hard yards. We’re really focusing on gelling as a pack and in the scrum too.”
The Greene King IPA Championship is the second tier of professional rugby in England. To keep up to date with the latest news and features follow @ChampRugby on Twitter.
