AYR Rugby Club have announced that Pat MacArthur will remain part of the Millbrae coaching set-up in 2024-25 following the demise of the Ayrshire Bulls.

MacArthur, a former pupil at Prestwick Academy, led the Bulls to their third Super Series title earlier this month, with a 33-19 win over the Stirling Wolves on June 7 securing their third trophy of the FOSROC Super Series era.

Their two Sprint titles and one Championship made the Bulls the most successful team of the part-time professional initiative.

But the Scottish Rugby Union’s decision earlier this year to pull the plug on the idea, set up in 2019 in a bid to bridge the gap between the club game and the fully-professional teams in Glasgow and Edinburgh, has left both the players and the coaching staff involved, not just with the Bulls but all six Super Series teams, facing an uncertain future.

This week, however, Ayr have announced that the 37-year-old former Glasgow Warriors forward, who won six caps for Scotland in 2013-14, will be retained in the coaching team at Millbrae as a ‘forwards consultant’ as the Pink and Blacks gear up for their assault on the Premiership in 2024-25, having secured promotion to the top flight in style last season.

He will be joined in the same role by Ryan Grant, who will combine his work with Ayr’s forwards with his role as head coach at Glasgow Accies.

A club spokesperson said: “Pat, as the most successful Super Series coach of all time, brings his vast knowledge around scrums and lineouts as well as general forward play.

“Ryan will also join on a consultancy basis alongside his role at Glasgow Accies.

“They will help mentor players at all levels of the club.”

The Bulls’ assistant head coach, Frazier Climo, will also remain at Millbrae as the squad’s attack coach, while Grant Anderson is retained as the first XV’s head coach after leading the team to promotion last season.

The Millbrae spokesperson added: “Frazier brings a vast amount of quality and experience to the group and will play a big part in integrating both up and coming young players developed through the Millbrae way and the Ayrshire Bulls players joining the club.

“Securing the first XV promotion into the premiership in his debut season as head coach is a great foundation for Grant to build upon and the club are very excited to see what he can do with the team this year.

“Grant will head up all aspects of the male senior section. His specific focus will be on the team’s defensive structure.”

The club’s coaching team for 2024-25 will also include Dean Kelbrick, who formally steps in as the second XV’s head coach, and Craig Gossman, who will work as assistant coach alongside both Anderson and Kelbrick at training and on match days.

In addition, two of the Bulls’ key players from last season, lock-forward Ed Bloodworth and prop Calvin Henderson, have been appointed to player-coach roles, working under MacArthur and Grant, while former Bulls centre/wing Bobby Beattie will lead the club’s strength and conditioning provision as well as working with the club’s youth academy.

The club is currently in the process of appointing a coach for the Millbrae third XV, who will compete in the West Region Reserve Division 1 next season.

Ayr’s first XV kick off their Premiership campaign at home to Currie Chieftains on Saturday, August 31, while the second XV start their campaign in the Inter City Reserve League on the same day when they host Stirling County’s second XV.

The third XV begin their league season away to Hillhead-Jordanhill's second XV on September 7.

Ayr’s ladies’ team will be the first to get their 2024-25 league campaign under way when they travel to Oban Lorne in West Division 1 on Sunday, August 25.