Deans names new assistants

Sydney - Australia coach Robbie Deans has made three new appointments to his coaching staff ahead of mid year Tests against Scotland and after the cleanout that followed last year's Rugby World Cup failure.

Tony McGahan, who succeeded Ireland coach Declan Kidney as coaching director of glamour club Munster, will join Deans in a new role as coaching co-ordinator. Deans said McGahan, who has also coached in the Queensland state and Japan, will have a major role in the overall coordination of the coaching and management of the Australia team.

Former Wallabies prop Andrew Blades has been named for a second term as Wallabies forwards coach, eight years after his first, and Nick Scrivener, a former Brumbies player will become a coaching assistant.