Solly stays on in Edinburgh
Former Springbok assistant and Southern Kings boss Alan Solomons has extended his stay in the Scottish capital, Edinburgh.
Solomons signed a 12-month extension to his contract, keeping him at the club until June 2016.
The capital side recently became the first Scottish team to reach a major European Final.
After defeating London Irish and Newport Dragons in the latter stages they played Gloucester in the Challenge Cup Final at Twickenham Stoop, eventually going down 13-19.
After a difficult start to the 2014/15 season Solomons has led the team to an improvement in fortunes with victory in the 1872 Cup against Glasgow Warriors and a play-off spot for the European Champions Cup still within reach.
"Everyone at Scottish Rugby acknowledges the contribution Alan has made in bringing Edinburgh to a major cup Final and improving its league position," Scottish Rugby Chief Executive Mark Dodson said.
"From the outset we set him the task of rebuilding the club, with Scottish players at its core and to develop young talent. This is now generating the results we hoped for and I am delighted he will continue his progress at Edinburgh Rugby."
Solomons' vision has been to build a sustainable club through young indigenous and Scottish-qualified talent, which he feels can be best developed through playing in a successful team, with a good thread of experience.
"We set ourselves the target, at the start of the season, of being in the top six in the [Pro12] league this year and although this is no longer possible we are still challenging for a play-off spot for the European Champions Cup," Alan Solomons said.
"Reaching the Final of the European Challenge Cup and winning the 1872 Cup have been equally pleasing and that's testament to the hard work of the players as well as the commitment of all our backroom staff.
"The challenges we've faced as a squad this year have been enormous – the injury count in the home game against Lyon being a case in point – but on each occasion we have risen to the challenge.
"I feel we're moving into the next phase of our development as a squad and that's really exciting. We are progressing but there is still a long way to go. I am absolutely focused on continuing this progress and realising the vision."
Players like scrumhalf Sam Hidalgo-Clyne and flank Hamish Watson, who had come through the Scotland age grades, and Ben Toolis were enlisted to the Edinburgh Academy and have shone for the club in recent months, progressing to be capped for Scotland during the 2015 Six Nations.
Solomons continued: "It's been very pleasing to see how players like Sam and Hamish – young Scottish talents – have developed over this season as our overall team performance has improved. I've ensured we have a well-conditioned squad, with the necessary strength in depth, into which young players could come and learn and flourish."
The former Director of Rugby at the Southern Kings, Solomons, arrived in Edinburgh in 2013.
Solomons was assistant coach during the Springboks' record run of 17 victories, coached Western Province to successive Currie Cup Finals (1997 and 1998) – winning the trophy in 1997 – and took the Stormers to the Super 12 semifinal in 1999, before beginning a three-year term at the helm in Ulster in 2001.
The Irishmen reached the knockout rounds of the Celtic League every year of his tenure, twice made the Celtic Cup Final (lifting the trophy in 2003) and enjoyed a three-year unbeaten home record in the European Cup.
He was employed as a high performance consultant for the IRB from 2007 to 2011 before taking Eastern Province to three successive Division One (second tier) finals (winning the trophy in 2010 and 2012) and lifting the IRB Nations Cup under the guise of shadow international side, the South Africa Kings.
Then came the role with the Southern Kings, which started with him coaching them in their inaugural match against the British & Irish Lions, before he took over the reins of Edinburgh from interim head coach, Stevie Scott, who has worked alongside him in the intervening two years.
