(CNN) -- The Scottish Rugby Union has appointed Andy Robinson, formerly coach of bitter rivals England, as the new national team boss.



Andy Robinson will be seeking to revive the fortunes of Scotland's struggling rugby side.



The 45-year-old won eight caps as a flanker for England, and was assistant coach in Clive Woodward's 2003 World Cup-winning set-up before taking over for an ill-fated reign himself in 2004, winning just nine of 22 matches.



Robinson returned to top-class coaching with Celtic League team Edinburgh in 2007, and has sufficiently impressed Scottish officials in the 20 months since then to win favor as the replacement for Frank Hadden.



He had been part of Hadden's backroom staff, and had already been chosen to coach Scotland A this summer. Hadden resigned on April 2 after Scotland again struggled in the Six Nations, finishing second from bottom with just one win from five outings.



Robinson was delighted to be given the chance to return to the international stage.



"With the World Cup in New Zealand in 2011, I believe we have a crop of players who can really challenge the world's best, and preparation for that starts now," he told the SRU Web site.



"I'm looking forward to leading Scotland A into the IRB Nations Cup in Romania next week and thereafter preparing for our Autumn Tests at Murrayfield against Fiji, Australia and Argentina."



Robinson is believed to have headed off the likes of South Africa's World Cup-winning coach Jake White and former Australia boss Eddie Jones for the job.



Former Scotland captain and British and Irish Lion Gordon Bulloch was part of the interview panel that determined the appointment.



"Andy was the outstanding candidate from a quite exceptional shortlist which underlines the allure of coaching the Scotland team," he told the SRU's Web site.



"I know from having had the privilege of his coaching and guidance on Lions tours that he is passionate about his rugby, is a skilled communicator and has values and an ethos which are absolutely at one with developing a winning Scotland team."



Scottish Rugby chief executive Gordon McKie said he was confident Robinson would prove to be successful.



"Andy has proved himself at every level of the game and we are thrilled that he will now be leading the Scotland team as we look towards the challenges of the next three years, including the 2011 World Cup," McKie said.



"He has been part of the Scottish Rugby family for the past two years and has brought success both to Edinburgh Rugby, with their highest ever Magners League finish in successive seasons, and has also guided the Scotland A team to notable successes."
Who did he rebuild his career with? Who is Scotlands new coach? Who is Andy Robinson? Who does Robinson replace? The 45-year-old has played for and coached? Robinson replaces? Andy Robinson appointed new coach of? Who is Robinson replacing? Where was Robinson sacked from? Who resigned in April? What has Andy Robinson been appointed? The new coach is how old? What age  is the new coach? Who is the new coach of Scotland's national rugby team
Celtic League team Edinburgh Andy Robinson, new national team boss. Frank Hadden. England, national team boss. Scottish Rugby Union Frank Hadden. England, Hadden the new national team boss. 45-year-old 45-year-old Andy Robinson,
question: Who did he rebuild his career with?, answer: Celtic League team Edinburgh | question: Who is Scotlands new coach?, answer: Andy Robinson, | question: Who is Andy Robinson?, answer: new national team boss. | question: Who does Robinson replace?, answer: Frank Hadden. | question: The 45-year-old has played for and coached?, answer: England, | question: Robinson replaces?, answer: national team boss. | question: Andy Robinson appointed new coach of?, answer: Scottish Rugby Union | question: Who is Robinson replacing?, answer: Frank Hadden. | question: Where was Robinson sacked from?, answer: England, | question: Who resigned in April?, answer: Hadden | question: What has Andy Robinson been appointed?, answer: the new national team boss. | question: The new coach is how old?, answer: 45-year-old | question: What age  is the new coach?, answer: 45-year-old | question: Who is the new coach of Scotland's national rugby team, answer: Andy Robinson,