FEVER PITCH GRIPS NATION

Townsend reckons the whole nation is set to come down with World Cup fever.

- BY GRAEME MACPHERSON

The Scotland boss revealed he swapped messages with Steve Clarke after the football team qualified for next summer's jamboree in North America.

And Townsend's side now know who they will play at their own World Cup in Australia in 2027 after being drawn with Ireland, Uruguay and Portugal in Pool D.

Scotland were backed in good numbers at the last tournament in France in 2023, and Townsend hopes the Australia-based expats will be joined by a large travelling Tartan Army in two years time.

He said: “I exchanged messages with Steve after they qualified for them, getting to a first World Cup since 1998, which is why it meant so much.