"Standout candidate" - Gregor Townsend closes in on Premiership top job
Rugby NewsSunday, 15 January 2023 at 18:45
icester Tigers have been in discussions with Gregor Townsend, the current Scotland head coach, regarding his potential appointment as head coach for the Welford Road team next season.
Townsend, who played for Scotland in 82 international matches, is currently under contract with the Scottish Rugby Union until the end of the World Cup in France later this year.
He has been considered for various coaching positions outside of Scotland in the past, including the head coach role at Racing 92, which ultimately went to Stuart Lancaster. Recently,
it was reported in French media that Townsend had applied for the position of attack coach for the French national team
Gregor Townsend facts:
Throughout his playing career, Gregor Townsend represented a variety of clubs including Northampton Saints, Brive, Castres, Border Reivers, and Montpellier. He was also a versatile player, capable of playing various positions such as full-back, centre, and fly-half. Townsend retired from professional club rugby in 2007.
During the 1999 Five Nations, he scored a try against every team, becoming the first Scotsman to do so since 1925.
Townsend is not the only member of his family with a background in rugby. His brother, Craig, was also a player, and his son, Christian, has represented Scotland at the U20 level.
Townsend was awarded an MBE for his services to rugby in 1999.
The fly-half was chosen to be a part of the 1997 British & Irish Lions squad led by Sir Ian McGeechan. During the tour to South Africa, he played in two Test matches, helping the Lions to a 2-1 series victory.
Scotland hoping four players will swap nations for 2023 Rugby World Cup
We take a look at four rugby union players who could swap nations to represent Scotland at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
#1. Ben Healy
- Age: 23
- Position: Fly-half
- Honours: Ireland U20
Healy will join Edinburgh this summer on a two-year deal.
The 23-year-old represented Ireland at under-20 level but qualifies for Scotland through his grandparents.
Healy has featured for the Irish province since 2019, amassing 275 points from 47 appearances.
"It's clear how much they want to play. I'm looking forward to putting myself into a new environment and seeing how I go," Healy told Edinburgh's website.
"I'd like to thank everyone at Munster for their support over the last few seasons. I've loved every minute of my time playing with the club, but I felt now was the right time to take on a new and exciting challenge in Edinburgh."
#2. John Cooney
- Age: 32
- Position: Scrum-half
- Honours: Ireland (11 caps), Emerging Ireland, Ireland U20
The former Connacht ace has not played for Ireland in three years — and can move under World Rugby’s new eligibility rules.
His father, John Cooney senior, who was born in Blantyre in South Lanarkshire, , was a journalist who worked for the
Glasgow Herald before becoming European correspondent, and later religious affairs correspondent, for The Irish Times
Players can switch nations if they have been stood down from international rugby for three years and they, or a parent or grandparent, were born in the country they wish to represent.
DID YOU KNOW? He is the first player to play over 20 games for three different Irish province (Connacht, Leinster, Ulster)
#3. Fin Smith
- Age: 20
- Position: Fly-half
- Honours: England U20
“I have chatted to Fin Smith on three occasions now since the Six Nations and have chatted to other players who are dual qualified that have not made our squad,” said Townsend.
“He is definitely a player we think very highly of.
“He has played a lot of rugby at a young age and just turned 20 a few weeks ago. It was great to get to know the person as well. He has close links with my old club, his grandad played for Gala and the Lions and his mum is from a village three miles from Gala.
“It has been good to get that connection and see how his game is progressing. I thought one of his best games was at the weekend when he played Bath.
“I went down to watch the Premiership final against London Irish so yeah, he is progressing but we didn’t feel this tour is the right time for him and obviously he would have to make a commitment between us and England.”
CONTIhttps://www.ruck.co.uk/standout-candidate-gregor-townsend-closes-in-on-premiership-top-job/4NUES ON PAGE FOUR
#4. Zach Mercer
- Age: 25
- Position: Number 8
- Honours: England, England U20, England U18
Zach Mercer of England goes over for a try during the Quilter Cup Match between England and Barbarians at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on May 27. - PHOTO: Phil Mingo/PPAUK
“I grew up in Scotland and I qualified to play on residency so that’s what I did,” Mercer said.
“I played for Scotland’s U16s because, at the time, I just wanted to play international rugby and to test myself against the best.
“I tried to get into the Scotland U18s a year early but I didn’t get selected. The next year came around and I was gunning to play [for Scotland U18s]. Around the same time, I was looking at some different contracts and that’s when Bath offered me one. When you’re offered a contract by a team like that, you’d be stupid to turn it down so, of course, I accepted it.
“Unfortunately, that was when the coach of the Scotland U18s called me and told me he wasn’t going to pick me because I hadn’t committed to Scotland and to Scottish rugby.
“I remember that day pretty well, because, 20 minutes later, when I told the England U18s head coach I hadn’t been picked, he just said: ‘Come down and play for us then’.”
“After that, my first game for England U18s was against Scotland. Honestly, you couldn’t write it.”
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