McGinty takes charge of Scotland

Scotland lost all three World Cup matches last year

Wigan assistant coach Billy McGinty has taken over from Shaun McRae as Scotland head coach.

McGinty returns to head up the Scottish international set-up after a gap of two years following McRae's decision to concentrate on his commitments with Super League club Hull.

McRae was in charge of Scotland for the 2000 World Cup, in which they narrowly lost all three group matches.

McGinty will be assisted by Swinton coach Mike Gregory, the former Great Britain forward who was previously assistant to McRae, and will be in charge when Scotland take on France on Tuesday 7 July.

Rugby league development

Greg McCallum, the RFL's director of rugby and president of Scotland Rugby League, said: "Shaun has had to stand down and it is only right that we recognise the significant contribution that he has made to developing the team and sport within Scotland.

"We fully appreciate that the demands of running a Super League club severely restrict his time and understand his decision."

Both Ireland and Scotland face away fixtures against the French in a revamped European international programme.

The Irish will travel to the south of France on Tuesday 26 June.

McCallum said: "We are committed to developing both the Irish and Scottish rugby league teams.

"This year we have been able to negotiate a limited window of opportunity for international rugby league in the Super League Europe fixture list.

"We are currently having more discussions with SLE about dovetailing international rugby league into their fixture planning for 2002 and beyond.

"This year the Super League fixture programme had already been announced by the time we reached agreement for the international fixtures and, bearing in mind that we have an in-coming tour by Australia later this year, there was very little room for manoeuvre."