Scotland name chief new new medical officer to replace Dr James Robson

Scotland have confirmed that Dr Douglas Hammond has become their new chief medical officer following the retirement of Dr James Robson.

Robson finished his 30-year association with Scotland at the conclusion of the Guinness Six Nations, bringing to an end a career that also saw him involved in six British & Irish Lions tours.

Hammond will join with over 15 years' worth of experience across various professional sports, and will begin the role on April 1.

He joins from England Rugby League, where he has been head doctor since 2021, but also worked with the RFU for eight years up to 2023, as well as serving as team doctor for Sale Sharks and Super League's Warrington Wolves.

Alongside his work in both rugby codes, he has also worked with the England & Wales Cricket Board and Stoke City in football.

Hammond said after being appointed: “To become the Chief Medical Officer for Scottish Rugby is not only exciting, but humbling. The job encompasses all that I have worked towards and allows me to use the entirety of my skillsets.

“As a Chief Medical Officer, the ability to create improvement and advancement across the whole sport appeals to me. This job involves being responsible for making all rugby environments medically high performing, and at the same time as safe as possible.

“The skills I have gained from working within professional and international sport for the last fifteen years, I believe, stand me in good stead to be able to manage the wide-reaching role of Chief Medical Officer.

“As well as aiming to produce the best elite medical environments, topics which will be high on my agenda will be brain health, mental health, and player load.

These are ever more relevant and topical with each month that passes, and we will strive to enable rugby union to maintain itself as a magnificent spectacle to watch and play, as well as being both safe in the short, and long term, for those involved.”