Frank Hadden

Infobox Rugby biography
name =Frank Hadden


caption = Hadden holding Calcutta Cup after Scotland's victory over England in February 2006.
birthname =Frank Hadden
nickname =
birthyear =1954
birthmonth =07
birthday =14
placeofbirth =Dundee, Scotland
dateofdeath =
placeofdeath =
height =
weight =
ru_position =Fly-half
ru_amateuryears =
ru_amateurclubs =
ru_currentteam = Scotland
ru_currentposition = Coach
ru_clubyears =
ru_proclubs =Headingley
ru_clubcaps =
ru_clubpoints =
ru_clubupdate =
ru_coachclubs =Scotland Edinburgh Caledonia Reds Merchiston Castle School Scotland U18 Scotland U19 Scotland U16 The Southport School Dundee HSFP
ru_coachyears =2005-present 2000-2005 1997-1998 1983-2000 1994-2000 1994-2000 1994-2000 1989
ru_coachupdate =11-11-2006
other = yes
family =
spouse =
children =
relatives =
school = High School of Dundee
university = Strathclyde University Carnegie School of Physical Education

Frank Hadden (born 14 June 1954 in Dundee, Scotland) is coach of the Scotland national rugby union team.

Hadden replaced Matt Williams and was appointed on 15 September 2005.Cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/4249150.stm |title=Scotland appoint Hadden as coach |publisher=bbc.co.uk |accessdate=2006-11-09 |date=15 September 2005] Hadden coached the Merchiston Castle School (MCS) 1st XV after being appointed Head of Physical Education at the school in 1983. He coached several Scottish age-group teams before being appointed assistant coach of the Caledonian Reds in 1997. He was later appointed coach of Edinburgh Gunners (now Edinburgh Rugby) in 2000 prior to becoming the Scotland coach. He has since coached Scotland to notable wins over England and France in the 2006 Six Nations and again winning the Calcutta Cup against England in the 2008 Six Nations.

Background

Hadden was educated at the High School of Dundee and the University of Strathclyde playing rugby for both. He attended the Carnegie School of Physical Education in Leeds (now Leeds Metropolitan University) to pursue a teaching career.

Playing career

While teaching at Guiseley School, he played rugby union for Headingley. He occasionally played in their 1st XV [Rugby union teams have 15 players, hence 1st XV refers to the top 15, or the top side.] when the incumbent fly half, Ian McGeechan (who later became coach of Scotland and the British and Irish Lions) was away on international playing duty.Cite news| url=http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/sport.cfm?id=219702006 |publisher=scotsman.com |title=To be Frank, who are ye? |accessdate=2006-11-11 |last=Conner |first=Jeff |date=12 February 2006] Ironically Hadden came close to playing football, with trials with both Queens Park Rangers and Forfar Athletic, as well as being offered a contract by Raith Rovers.Cite news| url=http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport.cfm?id=533792005 |title=Hadden can follow in my footsteps, says Dwyer |publisher=scotsman.com |accessdate=2006-11-11 |date=16 May 2005 |last=Lothian |first=Bill]

Coaching career

Merchiston Castle School and Scotland under-16s

In 1983, Hadden was appointed Head of physical education and director of rugby at Merchiston Castle School (MCS) in Edinburgh. Hadden helped turn the school's 1st XV into a dominant force in Scottish schools rugby.Cite news| url=http://sport.guardian.co.uk/sixnations2006/story/0,,1714247,00.html |title=Teacher's measures put a glow in the Scots |publisher=guardian.co.uk |accessdate=2006-11-09 |date=15 February 2006 |First=Donald |Last=McRae] During one four year period at the school he coached their team to 54 victories from 58 matches. In 1994 he was appointed coach of Scotland under-16s team. He continued to coach national age group sides until 2000.cite news |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml;jsessionid=UNL0143QOKVXHQFIQMFSFGGAVCBQ0IV0?xml=/sport/2006/02/10/srscot10.xml&sSheet=/sport/2006/02/10/ixrugu.html |title= The simple truth of Hadden's success |publisher=telegraph.co.uk |accessdate=2006-11-09 |first=Brendan |last=Gallagher |date=10 February 2006]

Hadden's first appointment to a professional team was in 1997 as assistant coach for the Caledonia Reds, one of the four new professional teams launched in Scotland. Hadden was included in the 1998 Scotland tour of Australia in the capacity of technical coach. However, when the Scottish Rugby Union was forced to merge the Caledonian Reds with the Glasgow Warriors during budget cut-backs, Hadden returned to teaching at MCS.Cite news| url=http://sport.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=1060&id=1586232006 |title=New model army that rose from schooldays |publisher=scotsman.com |accessdate=2006-11-11 |date=26 October 2006 |last=Lothian |first=Bill] Cite web |url=http://www.martinfrost.ws/htmlfiles/gazette/scottish_rugby.html |title=Scottish Rugby Union |publisher=martinfrost.ws |accessdate=11 November |accessyear=2006] While coaching the 1st XV he took them on to win The Scottish Schools Cup on a number of occasions.cite journal | last = Stranock | first = David | authorlink = | coauthors =Various | title = Various | journal = Merchistonian | volume = 1984-2000 | issue = Spring, Summer, Autumn | pages = | publisher = Merchiston Castle School | date = 1984-2000 | url = | doi = | id = ] He was a well liked member of staff who was great with those at all levels of many sports throughout the school. Along with rugby he was also a noted athletics coach at MCS.

Edinburgh and Scotland

In 2000 a player revolt led to the removal of Ian Rankin as coach of Edinburgh Rugby. The SRU Director of Rugby Jim Telfer asked Hadden accept the role of head coach. In 2004, he became the first coach to take a Scottish professional team to the Heineken Cup quarter-finals.cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/european/3419321.stm |title=Edinburgh 33-15 Ospreys |publisher=bbc.co.uk |accessdate=2006-11-09 |date=23 January 2004]

In April 2005 Matt Williams was sacked as Scotland coach after losing all but three of his 17 matches in charge.Cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/international/4483233.stm |title=Williams sacked as Scotland coach |publisher=bbc.co.uk |accessdate=2006-11-11 |date=25 April 2005] That month Hadden was appointed Scotland interim coach, leading Scotland to victories against the Barbarians and Romania.Cite news| url=http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/sport.cfm?id=1715032005 |title=SRU puts timetable on new coach |publisher=scotsman.com |first=Duncan |last=Smith |accessdate=2006-11-11 |date=2 August 2005] In 15 September 2005 Hadden was confirmed as Scotland coach until the Rugby World Cup in 2007.Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/4249150.stm |title=Scotland appoint Hadden as coach |publisher=bbc.com |accessdate=2006-11-11 |date=15 September 2005]

His first Six Nations game was a historic victory over France at Murrayfield on February 5, 2006 by 20 points to 16. This was the first time since 1999 that Scotland has beaten France. He succeeded in generating confidence in the team that was lacking under his predecessor.Cite news| url=http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0500rugbyunion/0900sixnations/tm_objectid=16690325&method=full&siteid=50082&headline=frank-assessment-name_page.html |title=Frank Assessment |publisher=icwales.icnetwork.co.uk |accessdate=2006-11-11 |date=11 February 2006 |first=Simon |last=Thomas] Chris Paterson said of Hadden's influence: "There is a confidence among the guys now and increased skill and belief in our handling... That's a testament to Frank and his coaching team."

Hadden's team suffered an 18-28 loss to Wales in Cardiff during which Scott Murray was sent off for the first time in his international career for using his boot recklessly on Ian Gough.

The Calcutta Cup returned to the SRU trophy cabinet on 25 February 2006 for the first time since 2000 after Hadden coached Scotland to victory over England.Cite news| url=http://sport.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=206&id=296962006 |title=Calcutta Cup joy for Murrayfield underdogs |publisher=scotsman.com |last=Watson |first=Jeremy |accessdate=2006-11-10 | date=26 February 2006] The win was largely due to a defensive effort that saw 112 tackles made by Scotland, with only 6 missed.cite news| url=http://sport.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=206&id=296812006 |title=Scotland the Brave |publiher=scotsman.com |accessdate=2006-11-10 |last=English |first=Tom |date=26 February 2006] Hadden said of the match: "There was no let-up in our defensive effort today. Sometimes a bigger, heavier, stronger side gets worn down by lighter opposition and this was evidence of it. I want to pay tribute to the crowd as well. They were magnificent. The crowd helps you most when you are under the cosh and they were undoubtedly the 16th man. And I speak as a supporter. I spent a lot of years on the terraces. The first thing supporters want to see is pride and passion from their team and that's what they saw out there."

Scotland finished third in the 2006 Six Nations, their best result since 2001.cite news| url=http://sport.guardian.co.uk/sixnations2006/story/0,,1701693,00.html |title=Scotland |publisher=guardian.co.uk |accessdate=2006-11-11 |date=3 February 2006] Their three wins in the 2006 Six Nations contrasting their sole win from the 2004 and 2005 tournaments. The turnaround is largely credited to Hadden, as the players available were nearly identical. Their win over France in the six-nations put Scotland eighth in the IRB world rankings. Their win over England then bought their rating to its highest point since rankings began.cite news| url=http://www.irb.com/EN/World+Rankings/Ranking+News/mig_060226+SL+rankings.htm |publisher=irb.com |title=Jubilant Scots hit rankings high |accessdate=2006-11-10 |date=26 February 2006] Under Hadden Scotland has been as high as seventh in the world rankings.Cite web| url=http://www.irb.com/en/World+Rankings/Rankings+Archive/history.htm?WRDate=2006-06-12 |title=IRB World Rankings 12/06/2006 |publisher=irb.com |date=12 June 2006 |accessdate=2006-11-10] cite web| url=http://www.irb.com/en/World+Rankings/world+rankings+full.htm |title=Latest IRB World Rankings |publisher=irb.com |accessdate=2006-11-10]

Hadden continued to coach Scotland through 2007, and coached them to the quarter-finals of the 2007 World Cup where they were defeated by Argentina. On 18 December 2007 the SRU announced that Hadden had signed a rolling contract to continue as Scotland coach until November 2008.cite news| url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/4/story.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10483228&ref=rss |title=Hadden to continue with Scotland |publisher=nzherald.co.nz |accessdate=2007-12-19 |date=2007-12-19]

Hadden won the Calcutta Cup for a second time on 8 March 2008, after a 15-9 victory over England at Murrayfield, whether this was due to tactical genius or sheer luck is debatable. Recent poor performances have led to supporters and past-players alike to call for Hadden's removal. However the lack of Rugby knowledge and finances within the SRU have meant Hadden has been able to retain his job against the odds.

ee also

* Scotland national rugby union team
* Six Nations Championship
* Sean Lineen
* Edinburgh Rugby

Notes and references

External links

* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/4249150.stm Scotland appoint Hadden as coach]
* [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,5582-2011427,00.html The coach: Frank Hadden]

Persondata
NAME=Hadden, Frank
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Scottish Rugby union coach
DATE OF BIRTH=14 June 1954
PLACE OF BIRTH=Dundee, Scotland
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=

Rugby union squad
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fg = #0072C6

---

country = Scotland
templatename = Scotland Squad 2007 World Cup
comp link = 2007 Rugby World Cup
comp = 2007 Rugby World Cup
f1 = Barclay
f2 = Brown
f3 = Callam
f4 = Ford
f5 = Hamilton
f6 = Hines
f7 = Hogg
f8 = Kerr
f9 = Lawson
f10 = MacLeod
f11 = E. Murray
f12 = S. Murray
f13 = Smith
f14 = Taylor
f15 = Thomson
f16 = White
b1 = Blair
b2 = Cusiter
b3 = Dewey
b4 = Di Rollo
b5 = Henderson
b6 = Lamont
b7 = Lamont
b8 = Lawson
b9 = Parks
b10 = Paterson
b11 = Southwell
b12 = Walker
b13 = Webster
coach = Hadden