Rugby 2012 Coaching Team

Head Coach - Brendan Mckerchar

Brendan is a dual international sportsman, was a member of the Scotland Senior International Rugby squad, representing Scotland A at the Churchill Cup and spent four years as a professional rugby player with the Border Reivers, gaining playing experience  in the Magners Celtic League and the Heineken cup. He captained Durham University rugby club, has two Oxford Blues  in both Rugby and Cricket and has played cricket for Scotland in the U19 Cricket World Cup. He graduated from Durham University with an honours degree in Biology, from Oxford University with a masters degree in the Science and Medicine of Athletic performance along with holding many of the most respected coaching accreditations in sport and strength and conditioning. He knows Merchiston well, having been a pupil, and more recently, Director of Rugby. This is Brendan's third consecutive year running the Merchiston Summer Rugby programme and he brings with him a wealth of experience in elite sport, not only of rugby itself, but also of this camp, and he has continually modified and improved the programme from previous years to ensure that it is the best that it can be. 

Coach - Greg Irvin

Greg played professional rugby for the Newcastle Falcons in the back row where he was mentored by Merchistonian Peter Walton through the Falcons Academy, set up whilst at Durham University. During this time Greg also played with Brendan in the same unbeaten Durham University side, which won the British Universities Championships Final at Twickenham. He has captained England Students to victory over Italy, Ireland, Wales and France. Greg has also worked as a development coach in the North East of England and currently plays rugby for Tyndale RFC in the English national 1 league. This is also Greg's third year at the Merchiston Summer Rugby programme and we are delighted to have him back with us again.