MELROSE RFC have appointed a former captain as their new first team coach.

Bruce Ruthven has joined the club from Watsonians, where he occupied the same position.

Melrose's joint director of rugby Rob Moffat said: “Bruce’s rugby leadership and development credentials are second to none."

The move comes after Stuart Johnson left the Greenyards to become a coach at Hawick.

Ruthven, who racked up 196 appearances for the first team, will lead a staff featuring a number of other new appointments, including Gordon Smith, Graeme Dodds, Bert Grigg and Dougie Dodds.

Mr Moffat said the club are "so happy" to have recruited Ruthven.

He added: "He is a local lad with a really impressive CV, a great deal of passion and an energy that we know will be contagious and inspirational.

"We can’t wait for him to get stuck in and start getting the very best out of our talented and enthusiastic pool of players.

"I’m really looking forward to working closely with him and assisting with coaching.”

Ruthven has previously coached Scotland youth squads at all age levels. He is currently rugby co-ordinator at Erskine Stewart's Melville College.