The role, which is funded jointly by the club and Scottish Rugby, will see 21-year-old Matthew facilitate, deliver and support the development and sustainability of rugby programmes within local schools in and within the club.

Matthew’s own rugby journey started with Dunfermline RFC when he was in Primary 3, and he has remained with the club for the last 14 years.

Coming up through the Colts, aged 18 he joined the Senior Men’s section, where he remains a regular feature in the 1 XV squad at outside centre.

Matthew’s rugby experience is equally matched by his coaching background.

As well as earning his UKCC Level 2 qualification in rugby coaching, in 2020 Matthew qualified with a HND from Edinburgh College in ‘Coaching and Developing Sport’.

Since qualifying, Matthew has been putting much of what he has learned into practice as a coach to the Dunfermline mini section.

He is now in his final year at Abertay University studying for an Honours Degree in ‘Sports Development and Coaching’.

Speaking about the new role, Matthew said: “I’m very excited to take on a new role with the club as the Development Officer. To now be in a position to take the knowledge and skills I’ve learned over the years to give back to the club is very special.

“I’m really looking forward to being able to play a part in reviving rugby in local schools, encouraging children of all ages and abilities to develop their core skills and help them grow a passion for a sport that has so much to offer."

Further bolstering their connections with schools, the club has also appointed Rowan McNeil to lead on a girl’s school development project to engage with more young girls to take up the sport.

Starting off playing football and hockey in school, Rowan (28) has now been playing rugby for six years and currently coaches the Dunfermline Girls section.

She has enjoyed a varied rugby career so far, currently playing at Scotland’s highest women’s level, the Tennent’s Premiership league, for Stirling County and is a dual registered player for Dunfermline fitting in to the women’s forward pack.

Rowan’s project, which will begin in the New Year, has also been funded by Scottish Rugby via the ‘Return to Rugby’ fund which launched earlier this year to support clubs across Scotland to help with the reintroduction of rugby following the height of the covid-19 pandemic.

Dunfermline RFC President, Kevin Storie added: “We are thrilled to welcome Matthew and Rowan on board as new members of the Dunfermline RFC development team. To be able to have these two passionate and enthusiastic individuals who know the game so well, come in to lend their experience and knowledge to help grow the game at the club is hugely exciting.

“We are very grateful to Scottish Rugby for providing us with the funding to allow us to enhance our connections within local schools and develop our rugby offering more widely to in our community.”