Performance director Jim Mallinder to leave Scottish Rugby at the end of the season

Scottish Rugby’s performance director Jim Mallinder will step down from the role at the end of the season.

The 57-year-old, who was appointed in August 2019, announced his intentions to leave next June after five years.

Since taking up the position of performance director he has overseen a rise in world rankings for both Scotland’s national teams and a strategic focus on investment for Scotland’s two professional teams in Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow Warriors.

Scottish Ruby announced the decision on Tuesday.

Mallinder said: “I’ve pretty much gone back-to-back in jobs from premiership director of rugby to the RFU to Scottish Rugby and so I’ve decided to stop, take a pause, before looking for something new.

“As anyone working in elite sport will tell you there are a lot of time and travel commitments, so I’d like to spend some time at home once this role ends.

“I’ve hugely enjoyed Scotland and contributing to the successes our teams have had and we have worked hard to improve areas which could be better. Since arriving I’ve been hugely impressed with how our teams perform and the results we can achieve against larger rugby nations.

“I’d like to thank everyone at Scottish Rugby for their support as there are fantastic people right across the organisation and I wish everyone well for the future. I have also enjoyed working with Rugby Players Scotland, and am proud of the mutually respectful relationship we have with them.”

Mallinder referenced the evolution of the Scotland Women team as it moved from amateur to full-time contracts as one of the points of progress he was proud to be associated with during his tenure.

He also oversaw the delivery of the Super6 competition as it emerged after the Covid pandemic and then evolved into the Super Series which saw Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors ‘A’ teams, as well as the Fosroc Futures join the tournament.

Scottish Rugby chief executive Mark Dodson said: “Jim is a rugby man through and through and I’d like to thank him for his leadership and contribution to our high-performance programmes over the past four years.

“Jim has given a lot to this role and so I respect that he now wants to take time out and reflect before deciding what the next step is he wants to take in his career.

“Jim has overseen significant strategic steps in our high-performance programmes in recent years and he leaves with our thanks and best wishes for the future.”