FORFAR-BASED RUGBY COACH'S AUTUMN INTERNATIONALS!

LOCAL rugby coach Colin Robertson has completed his own special 'Autumn Internationals 2010' after two decades of working with the nation's rising stars.

Much of his work in achieving the full England set was achieved during a 20-year career with the SRU in which Colin worked in a series of development and coaching roles, taking him firstly at national level to the technical coach position with the U-19s in the 1990s.

From 2004-07 he was head coach of the U-18 side before moving to take on the same post with the U-20 squad in World Cup and Six Nations campaigns.

The withdrawal of an U-17 coach opened the door for Grampian Institute of Sport manager Colin to take up the milestone appointment for the latest group of fixtures, which included an outing last week against a Newcastle Falcons Academy outfit.

"It's an honour to have the full set and I believe I'm the first person to have been head coach and assistant coach for all the age groups at national level - the only team I haven't coached is Scotland!" said Colin.

"There have been many highlights - the U-18 team in 2007 was the most successful, beating Wales, France and Italy in the Six Nations and there were only five points in the game against England.

"Coaching the U-20s to a World Cup where you are playing five games and maintaining that level of performance was also a memorable experience, and the with the U-19s we beat England and South Africa in World Cups so there have been many great memories," he added.

Pride over Colin's achievement is also shared at Strathmore Rugby Club in Forfar, particularly amongst the Strathie Sharks junior section which he has been instrumental in building since moving to the town from his native Gala in 1992.

Colin's closest Strathie interest centres around the progress of his son Struan's involvement in the club's Under-15s but, through his former SRU development role, he is very familiar with the good work being done at venues like Inchmacoble.

"It is the opposite end of the spectrum from the national teams, but Strathie is a great community environment," added Colin, who is counting on the club meeting one of his, so far, unfulfilled dreams.

"It is a frustration that nobody from Angus has played for Scotland and it would be great to think that with clubs like the Sharks continuing with their development that it could happen."

England V South Africa Hospitality

Autumn Internationals Hospitality