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Article courtesy of GH Media - https://www.facebook.com/GHMediaScotland
Marc Muir says it is a “great privilege” to be named as the new head coach of Aberdeen Grammar Rugby ahead of the 2026-27 rugby season.
For the last two and a half years the 46-year-old former Grammar and Aberdeen Wanderers player has been backs coach at Rubislaw.
And now he is taking over the head coaching role from Justin Taljaard who has done a solid job stabilising the club over the last couple of years in Arnold Clark National Three after a number of relegations prior to that.
Last season Grammar finished fifth in the 10-team league and Muir and others are already working hard ahead of the next campaign as the club look to mount a title bid after the summer.
“Being named head coach of Aberdeen Grammar is humbling and is a great privilege,” Muir said.
“This sport and this club have been a huge part of my life for many years and to be given the opportunity to head things up and work with a fantastic group of men who have the personal and collective drive to become better rugby players is just fantastic.
“My job is made easier by the fact that the squad we already have at the club is very coachable. They want to learn, they want to help each other improve in every training session and they are willing to try new ways of playing.
“Grammar have given me a lot of opportunities to coach over the last decade in varying different roles since my son Ethan’s age group were in the primary two minis - now it’s my turn to repay the club’s trust in me.
“I am excited for the new challenges that the head coach role brings and together as a coaching and playing group we’ll work hard to build something that everyone can be proud of.
“Last season there were a lot of positives at the club as our second team won their league, we had a number of under-18s graduate to senior rugby and our first team were excellent in the middle period of the season.
“Next season we need the second team XV to keep challenging the best teams in a higher league as they will now be in Caledonia North Two and we need to help last year’s under-18s and make their move into adult rugby as smooth as possible.
“For the first team in 2026-27 it is about creating a winning culture and creating opportunities for the squad to show that they can compete - and win - against the best teams in our league.
“We have a club that is built on a strong community spirit and I have responsibility to continue to build upon that, these are exciting times.”
While he was in the Royal Marines in the early 2000s, Muir played for Grammar so his links with the club go back around 25 years.
When he then had to move units for work, Grammar were in the top flight at the time and he was unable to commit to playing Premiership rugby so he moved to Aberdeen Wanderers where a few of his friends were turning out.
Wanderers then gave him his first coaching opportunity as a backs coach in the early 2010s before mini and youth coaching at Grammar took up his time from 2016 onwards until a chance came up to work with the senior team in mid-2023-24.
“It was a tough time for the squad at that stage as another relegation was coming, morale was low but commitment was still high,” Muir recounts.
“Over the last couple of years there has been a reset at the club and Justin Taljaard did a fantastic job in adding some structure to the way Grammar play and bringing an intensity in training.
“We have a great platform now and I want us to move forward and play a faster, more free flowing type of rugby which suits the athletes we have in the squad.
“We know we don’t have the biggest pack in the league, but we are probably one of the fastest and fittest teams around so we will use this to our advantage and never let up and never take our foot off the gas.”
Ross Anderson and Aaron Robertson are joining Muir’s coaching team as assistant/forwards coaches.
Jack Burnett is continuing as strength and conditioning coach while Craig Shepherd, who has been captain in recent years and is a key player, will continue in his role as chief analyst by compiling data and statistics from matches and training.
Grammar will travel to Orkney on the opening day of the National Three season on August 29.