STUART Johnson says he is delighted to join Gala Rugby's coaching team – having been brought up in the town.

Johnson is well known locally having had a long playing and coaching career at Melrose and more recently at Hawick.

Work commitments, however, meant that he was forced to step down as head coach at Mansfield Park.

But now he has joined the Gala coaching team of Euan Dods, John Amos, Alan Emond, Andy Pow and Martin Christie under head coach Fraser Thomson.

And he will primarily take responsibility for the lineouts.

He told Borders Rugby TV: “I was at Hawick during lockdown which was a great place to be. They had a good bunch of boys, but work commitments and being a head coach at a Premiership club was probably asking too much so I decided it was best to let Matty Douglas know.

“Knowing Bill Noble and Fraser Thomson, they picked up the phone and asked if I would be interested in helping out with the lineouts initially down in Gala.

"I went down and had a conversation with Fraz and got involved in a session and really enjoyed the atmosphere and the players.

“Going in as forwards coach there was less of a time constraint than what there had been as head coach at Hawick so it made sense to keep involved.

“A lot of people don’t know this but I actually started my rugby at Gala and played for Gala Rugby Club right through primary school so it’s back to where it began for me which is quite exciting and obviously there is a history with Gala Rugby Club that goes along with it and I know they have ambitions.

"I spoke to Fraz about his ambitions and what he wants to achieve at the club such as getting back into the Premiership. It’s a good journey to come into at the start and I’m really excited about it.

“I was actually at Gala Academy for first year before moving to Earlston when my parents moved to Westruther so it’s good to be back.

"I know a lot of people there, community guys, supporters and players and they are a great bunch.

"I’ve always enjoyed my time down at Netherdale and it’s good to be part of the club rather than going down there as part of the opposition."