British and Irish Lions

Interim Scotland head coach Frank Hadden will put his application for the permanent national job to one side as he focuses on club duties with Edinburgh Gunners.

The Edinburgh boss guided Scotland to wins over the Barbarians and Romania this summer after replacing Matt Williams, who was sacked in March after winning just three Tests from a possible 17, on a temporary basis.

The Gunners chief has the support of current Scotland internationals such as Jon Petrie and Chris Paterson to succeed Williams and the Scottish Rugby Union are looking to name the new national coach before the Autumn Test series against New Zealand, Argentina and Samoa in November.

The governing body are currently sifting through applications for the post with chairman Allan Munro, president Andy Irvine, chief executive Gordon McKie and director Brian Kennedy preparing to interview candidates.

However, Hadden insists his focus is solely on the Celtic League opener against Llanelli at Stradey Park.

He said: "I am fully concentrating on the job in hand here at Edinburgh.

"In fact, it has been very easy and straightforward for me to focus on Edinburgh.

"Edinburgh are simply taking up all my energies at the moment and anything else is peripheral."

Three former British & Irish Lions will line-up against an England XV at Twickenham Stadium on Sunday as the Barbarians warm-up for their showdown with the 2013 tourists in Hong Kong next week.

Radike Samo, one of only two players still playing top level rugby in Australia who placed against the 2001 British & Irish Lions, will return to top flight action with Queensland Reds against the Stormers in Cape Town on Sunday.