Wigan head coach the latest to switch codes to Rugby Union

Wigan Warriors head coach Shaun Wane will take up a role as Scottish Rugby high performance coach at the end of the Super League season.

The long-serving Wane last month announced he will leave his hometown club to see a new challenge and declared that he was "open to anything".

Scottish Rugby on Monday announced that Wane, who has masterminded two Super League triumphs for Wigan, will switch codes to work closely with elite coaches at all levels on a consultancy basis. 

Wane said: "I see this as a fantastic opportunity to not only impart what I have learnt over my career in rugby league as a player and coach, but also to learn myself from union and look to support the excellent work already being done in Scotland.

"The Scottish way of playing the game is fast, highly skilled and positive and that is something I want to contribute to, and help develop further.

"It is a fresh challenge for me, but the chance to work across all the teams and age-grades, with the BT Sport Academy players, both male and female, was an opportunity I am excited to take."

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend said: "There is a lot we can learn from Shaun in both the technical side of the game as well as wider aspects of coaching.

"The range of skills now needed across the pitch in rugby union, aligned with the style of play we are developing means that all our players have to be able to pass accurately and deploy effective lines of running that will either hold defenders or find space.

"What Shaun brings from rugby league is immediately transferrable and will add real value."