The 57-year-old Edinburgh businessman will be joined by non-executive directors Fred McLeod, Tom Inglis and Brian Kennedy.

SRU president Andy Irvine is now confident of appointing a chief executive to replace Phil Anderton swiftly.

He said: I am delighted to announce the appointment of Allan Munro as chairman of Scottish Rugby, who, together with the new chief executive officer, whose appointment we expect to make shortly, will lead Scottish Rugby under the new corporate governance arrangements.

Working with the executive directors, the appointees, together with the Scottish Rugby Council appointees, will agree the vision and strategy for Scottish rugby and work closely together to deliver it.

As president of Scottish rugby, I shall now take a step to one side and essentially assume an ambassadorial role.

I believe that Scottish rugby now has corporate governance which will stand the test of comparison with any sporting organisation.

This is a defining moment for Scottish rugby and I know that its future, through the appointments we are making today, is in very capable and safe hands.