Scotland Women Head Coach Shade Munro is stepping down from the role to take up a new role within the Fosroc Scottish Rugby Academy.

Munro, who had been Scotland Women head coach since June 2015, has been appointed the new Lead Academy Coach for Glasgow & the West.



The appointment came in January, however, both Scottish Rugby and Munro agreed he would lead the team in the 2019 Women’s Six Nations campaign.

His final game in charge was an 80-0 demolition by England Women at Twickenham last night (Saturday) as Scotland Women failed to win a match in this year’s championship.



Munro will take up the new Academy position in April and replaces Iain Monaghan, who left Scottish Rugby for a role in Hong Kong.



The former Glasgow Warriors assistant coach has overseen a significant period of change within the women’s game in Scotland as the first full-time head coach for the women’s national team.

A recruitment process will begin with the aim of having a new coach in place ahead of the 2019 Autumn Tests.



Munro led the Scotland team to two victories in the 2017 Six Nations against Italy and Wales respectively and achieved the first win against Ireland in the Six Nations with a rare away result in the 2018 competition.



Munro said: “I’ve really enjoyed my time working with this group of players and seeing the improvements they have made. I am proud of how much they have all developed individually and as a team over the last few years.



“Increasing the level of coaching and amount of training regionally, along with the increase in National camps and competitive fixtures has helped hugely with this development.

“There have also been some fantastic highlights during my time involved most notably achieving our first Six Nations win in 35 attempts along with our first away win in the same competition last year against Ireland.



“Given the passion and commitment the players show when representing their country and their collective desire to continue to improve I have no doubt that further success awaits Scotland Women’s rugby. I would like to wish them all the very best for the future.



“The new Academy position will provide an opportunity to work with different players who are at a key stage in their career, making this an attractive role to take on and one I am looking forward to.”



Gemma Fay, Scottish Rugby’s Head of Women and Girl’s Rugby, said: “I’d like to thank Shade for the work he has done with the Scotland team over the past four years.



“He has been leading the team through a period of unprecedented development and the knowledge and experience he brought from the professional game has helped us to progress.



“With any change comes a fresh opportunity and we will be looking to recruit someone who can build on the strong foundations that Shade has developed.



“I would like to wish him all the best for this new chapter in his coaching career.”

Image caption: Shade Munro is standing down as Scotland Women Head Coach. Credjt: Scottish Rugby/SNS Group