Scott Johnson

Scott Phillip Johnson, the Sydney born former fly half or centre; took up the post of Skills Coach with the Wales National Squad on February 1st 2002, two days before Graham Henry resigned as National Coach.

During his playing career, Johnson captained Australia U21 and represented New South Wales.

Johnson began his coaching career with Sydney-based side; Penrith and went on to become the New South Wales Assistant Coach in 2001, also coaching the NSW Blues and the Australian Barbarians.

Johnson met Graham Henry in battle eight months before he began his appointment when, as Assistant Coach to Australia A, he took on the British & Irish Lions and beat them 28-25 in June 2001.

Johnson became a prominent figure as Skills Coach in the subsequent Steve Hansen era, coaching Wales in the 2003 Rugby World Cup in his native Australia, subsequent autumn international series, summer tours and RBS Six Nations competitions.

He remained in his position following the departure of Steve Hansen and appointment of Mike Ruddock, and was part of the coaching team that delivered the 2005 RBS Six Nations Grand Slam, delivering on his famous prediction to the BBC’s Scrum V programme in 2003 that the then Wooden Spoon winners would win the competition within two years.

Following the resignation of Mike Ruddock from his post in the 2006 RBS Six Nations, Scott Johnson took over for three matches as caretaker-manager to the end of the tournament.

His contract having run its course, Johnson departed Wales for Australia, where he took up the position of Assistant Coach to the Australia National Squad. It wasn’t long before he was back in the Principality, as he arrived at the Millennium Stadium with Australia for the 29-29 draw with Wales during the 2006 Invesco Perpetual Series.