Andy Irvine, Andy Nicol, Gordon Bulloch, SRU chair Alan Munro and chief executive Gordon McKie are the men chosen to appoint Frank Hadden's successor and reinvigorate a lacklustre Scotland.

McKie has received more than 30 applications for the Scotland top job, with eight of those serious contenders, according to the SRU chief executive.

"We were keen to get a strong rugby bias on to the panel," McKie told BBC Scotland. "We don't want the 'suits' to make the appointment. We want the people who know rugby to assist us.

"It's a critically important appointment. We've got to get this right. The process will be very thorough.

"We will also be taking soundings from other people in the game - not yet named - and we are also delighted to secure the assistance of the Scottish Institute of Sport.

"We've got a very good list of home and overseas candidates and, contrary to rumour, some of them are of a very high pedigree and we're delighted with the response."