SHADE MUNRO has been confirmed as the new head coach of the Scotland women's team.

The former assistant coach at Glasgow Warriors will take up the post later in the summer, replacing Jules Maxton, who has been in charge for the last two years.

Munro's future had been uncertain since the end of March, when the Warriors announced they were to let him go at the end of the season.

He was told then that the Scottish Rugby Union would offer him alternative employment, and after some deliberation he has now accepted such an offer.

"I've got a lot of experience in professional rugby and I'm keen to bring that to the women's game, to link the two and move the team on," the 48-year-old former Scotland lock said. "I'm really looking forward to the challenge.

"The aspect I'm personally looking forward to is being in a position to head up the operation - to be a head coach of a national squad is something I've wanted to do for a while. This gives me the opportunity to do so and see how I can bring the skills I have into a different playing environment.

"I'll be able to take stock of the women's game and look at all aspects - from the club coaches to the strength and conditioners to the team itself - and working in conjunction with Sheila [Begbie, the SRU's head of women's and girls' rugby], to bring a different edge to the national team programme. I'll be coming in with a blank sheet and no preconceived ideas, so it's a fresh start for the players as well as me."

Begbie, who took up her post just over a year ago after moving from the Scottish Football Association, is confident that Munro can help revive the fortunes of a team who last won a Six Nations match back in 2010.

"We're absolutely delighted to welcome Shade as our women's national coach," she said. "He will support us to take the women's game to the next level in Scotland as he has a wealth of knowledge and experience working within a high-performance environment.

"Shade has had an outstanding career to date, most recently being part of the Glasgow Warriors success in the Guinness PRO12. I'm sure everyone involved in women's rugby in Scotland will be excited by Shade's appointment and will see him as a very welcome addition to the women's game."