Townsend to lead the Scots to RWC 2027

GREGOR Townsend is relishing the challenge ahead after extending his contract as Scotland head coach through to the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

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Already the national team’s longest-serving coach of the professional era after being appointed in the summer of 2017, Townsend will have been in the role more than a decade by the time he leads the Scots to his third global showpiece in Australia in just over two years.

The former standoff’s previous contract was due to expire after next year’s Six Nations - and there had been some doubt about whether he would be retained after drawing criticism in some quarters following back-to-back fourth-placed finishes in the championship and successive pool-stage exits at the 2019 and 2023 World Cups.