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Paterson set for Scotland role

Chris Paterson's new role with Scottish Rugby as a coach and ambassador has been confirmed.

Scotland's joint cap and points record-holder ended his 13-year professional career in style at Murrayfield on Saturday, contributing a try in his final outing for Edinburgh Rugby.

On Tuesday, it was confirmed 34-year-old Paterson's inspirational qualities will remain on tap to Scottish Rugby in a new role which will combine both ambassadorial and coaching responsibilities.

Paterson will train as a specialist coach under the wing of Duncan Hodge, the Scottish Rugby Union's kicking coach.

Paterson, who won 109 caps for Scotland between 1999 and 2011, scoring a record-breaking 809 points during that time, said: "I'm delighted to take on this new role and can't wait to get my teeth into it."

His will get started on the other side of the world with a fact-finding mission to the Canterbury Crusaders in New Zealand.

"I'm really excited about going to New Zealand and looking to get lots from it," added Paterson.

"The first really obvious thing would be what it's like to approach games as a coach and not a player."

Scottish Rugby's director of communications and public affairs, Dominic McKay, said: "Chris Paterson's years of service to Scottish Rugby as an all-time great player have come to an end but now there is an opportunity to forge a new and exciting career and enable future generations to benefit from his unparalleled experience.

"One of the reasons Mossy has inspired so many people, is because of his personality.

"Whether in the boardroom or the changing room, the shopping centre or the classroom, Chris is recognised as the embodiment of all that is good about our sport and our country, and having discussed with him his career beyond rugby we wanted to expand the concept of 'ambassador' which we have used at specific events and bring it to all the facets of Scottish Rugby.

"Chris will play an important role in promoting the many positive values that rugby offers and through his wealth of experiences, both on and off the park, he will assist in inspiring the rugby players of the future."

On the coaching side, Graham Lowe, Scottish Rugby's high performance director, said: "We are taking up the opportunity of exploring how best we can help Chris's transition from player to coach. We know from, for example, speaking to young players within the Edinburgh set-up the extent of the influence that Chris has, and his ability to articulate the knowledge and skills he has acquired throughout his career is already evident.

"Chris has a teaching background, having studied PE before he became a professional player, and we've already seen his ability to mentor players - Tom Brown through the Winning Scotland Foundation initiative - and I firmly believe we can develop Chris as a specialist coach and, in turn, infuse our best young talent with the best practice and work ethic which made Chris the player he was."