Hadden cuts SRU ties and ponders his next move

FRANK Hadden last night formally severed his ties with the Scottish Rugby Union and described his reign as national coach as a "privilege".

Dundee-born Hadden, 55, who led Scotland into four full Six Nations campaigns, also wished his successor Andy Robinson well and said he would take his time before deciding what to do next.

Hadden stepped down as head coach in April at the end of the 2009 RBS Six Nations Championship, and was replaced by Robinson earlier this month.

The former Edinburgh coach had been rumoured to be earmarked for a newly-created director of performance role, which will oversee the elite game in the country. However, Hadden has decided to leave the SRU's employment and seek new challenges.

Hadden said yesterday: "It was a huge honour to be invited to coach the Scotland under-16s in 1992 and it has been a privilege to work with Scottish players at all levels since then.

"Everyone knows that coaching our national XV is a tough job, but I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to take up the challenge and wish Andy Robinson the best of luck.

"I have been coaching professional rugby since the end of the amateur era and it's time now to take a step back and review what I do next."

Hadden, who had guided Edinburgh to the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup in 2004, took over the post of Scotland head coach on an interim basis in May 2005, replacing Matt Williams, before taking on the role full-time in the autumn of that year.

He hit the ground running in the 2006 Six Nations, sending his team out to defeat France 20-16 at Murrayfield in the opening match of the campaign. A narrow defeat followed away to Wales, although Scotland were hampered by the dismissal of Scott Murray in Cardiff, and soon bounced back in spectacular style by beating England at Murrayfield to win the Calcutta Cup for the first time in six years.

The victory over England helped Scotland finish third in the Six Nations and the future appeared bright under Hadden, but his two subsequent campaigns proved enormous disappointments in comparison to his debut season.

The 2007 Six Nations saw Scotland slump to the wooden spoon, reaching a new low when they were routed 37-17 by Italy in an inept performance at Murrayfield, which saw them concede three tries inside the first six minutes. Although Scotland reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup in France later that year, they lost out to Argentina, and a golden opportunity of reaching the last four had been lost.

The Calcutta Cup was recaptured in 2008 after a 15-9 win over England, but only offered brief respite to Hadden, who attracted criticism for failing to get Scotland playing consistently to their strengths. The knives were out for him when that proved to be Scotland's only triumph, as they lost to 23-20 to Italy in Rome – only avoiding the wooden spoon by points difference.

A sole Six Nations victory over Italy and two weeks after losing their final match of the competition to England at Twickenham, Hadden announced he would be stepping down.

After Hadden's departure from the SRU was confirmed yesterday, chief executive Gordon McKie said: "I want to place on record Scottish Rugby's gratitude for Frank's utmost dedication and commitment. Frank was, and remains, first and foremost a passionate follower of the Scotland team and he always knew the honour and great responsibility that goes with the post of Scotland head coach.

"Prior to Frank's appointment, Scotland had not won an away international against a top tier southern hemisphere nation since 1982 and we had only recorded one victory over England in 16 matches.

"Frank can be rightly proud of coaching Scotland to our first ever Test victory in Argentina; of securing wins against four of our five opponents in the RBS Six Nations Championship; beating current Grand Slam champions Ireland in our preparations for RWC 2007; of ensuring Scotland maintained its tremendous record of always qualifying for the knockout stages of every Rugby World Cup; and, most memorably, plotting back-to-back Murrayfield Calcutta Cup triumphs."