New Edinburgh Rugby recruit reveals David Nucifora contact how team can shape revival

The 50-year-old has arrived in Scotland as part of a coaching reshuffle that has seen fellow Australian Brad Davis also join Sean Everitt’s backroom team as defence coach.

Sampson has been encouraged by his first month in the post as Edinburgh look to rebound from a difficult campaign in which they finished 12th in the United Rugby Championship and failed to qualify for the playoffs or this season’s Champions Cup.

Several new signings, including scrum-half Louie Chapman, fly-half James Grayson and centre Riley Higgins, will arrive at different stages of the next few months to enhance Edinburgh’s backline options.

Sampson, whose last role was with the Fijian Drua having previously coached at Western Force and Melbourne Rebels, believes there will be plenty to work with as he tries to turn Edinburgh’s attack into a more potent force.

He said: “Where I’m from, (Edinburgh) is a world-renowned club, with a lot of history. It just ticked all the boxes for me and coaching in the URC competition is something I've always wanted to do. I've spent eight years in Super Rugby and it was time for a change and no better place.

“(Rebounding from last season) is the goal for sure. There have been a lot of changes throughout the organisation so it's brought some fresh energy into the place. You always respect the people that have been before us but there's certainly been a lot of growth over the three weeks we've been in already out on the field.

"There’s a good feel about the place. I know it's pre-season and we haven't played yet, but I think the appetite there from staff and players to kick on is really encouraging.”

Sampson revealed he spoke with Scottish Rugby performance director David Nucifora and former Scotland defence coach Matt Taylor – an old friend – as well as Everitt before agreeing to move from his home in Australia.

He added: “I was out of contract in Fiji after my two years there and always want to come over this way. I just received a call and went from there. (Nucifora) reached out initially and then Sean gave me a buzz and then met up again with them together. I've known David for a while now. When I first started coaching, he was quite good to me when I was just trying to find my path and which way I wanted to go.

“I also know Matt Taylor quite well. I made contact with Tatsy and had a good chat and he couldn't speak highly enough about the place.”

Sampson hoped some of the younger half-backs – like Hector Patterson and Conor McAlpine – would also start to speak out more to try to shape the attack going forward.

He added: “I'm encouraging the younger guys to talk up a lot in meetings. Our nines and our tens need to talk more in meetings and that'll transfer out onto the field.

“It's our job to encourage that and support them around that. The rugby smarts are there and they've just got to have the confidence to really drive this team around the park.”