It is with pride and pleasure that Glasgow Hawks RFC can announce Steven Findlay as Assistant Coach to new Head Coach Andy Hill for the forthcoming 2019-2020 season.

Findlay first joined Glasgow Hawks as a player in 2010/11 from Dalziel Rugby Club. He was a stalwart in the 1st XV, signed with Glasgow Warriors for a season in 2015 and then headed south to Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs RUFC for a season of Shute Shield in 2015/16. He brought these experiences back to the benefit of Hawks in 2016. It’s safe to say that after almost a decade at the club, the talismanic loosehead prop is truly a Hawks man.

“As a highly respected club International prop, Steven has already demonstrated the kind of application to hard work that is required to be a success”, says Club President, Kenny Hamilton. “Now he has the opportunity to ‘encourage’ the same application in others to make the most of their talent. He will add technical knowledge and experience. It is not over stating it to say he is the beating heart of Hawks”.

Even after a season-ending injury, in September 2018, forced Findlay from the front row onto the surgeon’s table and then the sidelines, his input to Hawks was omnipresent, combining his rehabilitation work with a significant coaching input. From last season’s coaching involvement, Findlay was keen to take this role further, “I’m looking forward to being able to solely focus on coaching in the forthcoming season. I’m looking forward to the new squad coming together and pushing each individual to be the best player they can be.”

His breadth of rugby experience, and the coaches he has worked with, has informed his approach to coaching and player development, citing Jimmy Sinclair, Jamie Dempsey and Dan McFarland as significant influencers in his approach to rugby and life in general. “Jimmy worked with me relentlessly and gave me belief, Jamie’s training sessions were always enjoyable and is a guy who everyone would really work hard for. These are things I wish to emulate in my coaching role at Hawks”.
Findlay speaks of their consideration of the technical, physical and mental aspects rugby, “learning from environments that were much faster, attack focused and physical compared to the Premiership has taught me the importance of being technically astute and incredibly fit…. Dan McFarland taught me how to look forward to playing in a much more technical way. I learned the importance of being switched on to take everything on board and still play with accuracy. Knowing your role and effectively carrying it out whilst under pressure is a massive part of the modern game. I look forward to bringing this to Hawks.”

Incoming Head Coach Andy Hill knows Findlay very well from their playing days as squad mates and competitors. Hill very much sees this as a benefit to them as a coaching team and to the players, “I have known and played with and against him since we were about 8 years old. We know each other inside out and neither of us will shirk from saying something to one another. Steven’s honesty and integrity are two of his best characteristics and I’m sure the work-ethic he had as a player will be seen in his transition into coaching.”

Hamilton continues, “We’re fortunate that someone of Steven’s experience and calibre has already been a key part of the Hawks environment. Having him assisting Hill at the helm will ensure important continuity but more importantly, from this season we know them to be a formidable coaching combination.”
"Steven is hugely respected at the club and he has earned this from many years leading Hawks on the pitch” says Club Captain Stephen Leckey. “It is great that the club has secured his services as a coach”. For Leckey, it’s not just Findlay’s experience and rugby know-how that will benefit Hawks, it’s the wider impact he can have on players, “he’ll be a great role model for new and existing players, showing them what it means to be a Glasgow Hawk."
Look out for further coaching and player announcements coming soon.