Archive September 3, 2025

Gregor Townsend says the desire to play in another Rugby World Cup led to his choice to stay in charge of Scotland until 2027.

There was rumor that the 52-year-old’s contract was about to expire in April of next year, and the Scot was a potential rugby director.

Townsend will remain in until the end of the next World Cup in Australia, according to Scottish Rugby, which was confirmed on Wednesday.

Townsend remarked, “Being Scotland’s head coach is a huge honor and true privilege.”

I’m “absolutely motivated to help the team fulfill its potential,” says I am excited to take on my country at another Rugby World Cup.

The progress the team has made has really boosted my confidence over the past few years. I’m eager to work with the squad once more to make this happen because there is a real belief in their ability to achieve extraordinary things.

And he is the longest-serving tier one coach in the world out of those still in place. He has won 94 Tests, including the epic 38-38 victory at Twickenham in 2019, losing 40, and drawing one.

Townsend’s 100th Test as Scotland coach will take place in Edinburgh in February’s second round of the Six Nations, facing England in the autumn series against the United States, New Zealand, Argentina, and Tonga.

In his time at the helm, he has won four Tests against Australia in five years, the first in Paris in 22 years, the first in Twickenham in 38, and four Calcutta Cups in a row for the first time since 1970.

Since Townsend took over, Scotland’s ability to play scintillating rugby has reappeared in the form of a significant increase in the number of Scots selected for British and Irish Lions tours.

Three, three, two, three, three, and two were Scotland’s initial squad numbers on the five pre-Townsend tours.

Eight Scots have been original picks on both Lions tours since Townsend’s as manager, with a number of others being called up throughout the tour, most notably under Andy Farrell in Australia this summer.

Townsend’s watch has improved for Scotland, but there isn’t anything tangible to support it. Despite this, there is definite support for an overhaul.

His critics have grown as he goes through his eight years, which are now set to become his ten.

Franco Smith’s arrival in the role would have delighted those Scotland fans who had been seeking change. That group of supporters feels like the team has stagnated under Townsend in recent years.

With just two third-place finishes in eight attempts and a fourth-place finish average, Scotland has never properly challenged for a Six Nations title despite the fine one-off victories.

There hasn’t been the depth of the squad or consistency to contend, despite the team’s remarkable number of sell-outs in its best days, which has led to the team’s enormously entertaining growth in its best days.

Townsend’s defeat by Fiji in Suva over the summer set them a new high of fifth in the world, but they are currently eighth.

Additionally, he has lost in two World Cups in a row, losing in Japan in 2019 and France in 2023.

Unquestionably, Townsend wants to stay on because it makes up for such disappointment. He will experience unfinished business because he has never been to the wire in the Six Nations and has never been a member of the Six Nations.

The six groups of four teams will participate in the World Cup draw in December, with the top six teams moving up each group.

Townsend is hopeful that he will do so for the first time as he attempts to leave a group.

When South Africa (the holders) and Ireland (the time the world number one) squared off in France in 2023, only the top two countries managed to qualify.

Scotland could not be landed with a similar pool of death in Australia, despite having the eight-man world ranking in the new 24-nation format.

With the two top nations, as well as the four top third-place teams in all categories, they would be placed second, making it to the last 16 knockouts.

That makes it more welcoming and appealing for Townsend than it does for Scotland.

Now that his future is secure, the autumnal planning begins, with the All Blacks playing the match on November 8.

Townsend has had two failed attempts at them as a coach, including an eight-point defeat in 2022 and five-point losses in 2017.

Manchester City and Manchester United are reportedly in talks over moving for England midfielder Jess Park.

The 23-year-old made 20 appearances for England and made the Euro 2025 squad that won.

She impressed in a loan spell at Everton during the 2022-23 season and has spent eight years with Manchester City.

If City beat Brann in their two-legged play-off this month, Park has become a regular player for City, but they are looking to strengthen their squad as they prepare for a season in the main stage of the Women’s Champions League.

With a year left on her contract, there have also been reports of interest in Manchester United’s midfielder Grace Clinton, some of whom have also been linked with her.

There is currently no indication that England international Clinton will leave United before the 23:00 BST transfer deadline, but the club may need to take into account important offers if it’s still unlikely that she will agree to a contract extension.

Australia captain Pat Cummins is willing to be “aggressive” and “take risks” with his rehabilitation from a back injury in order to be fit for the first Ashes Test against England this winter.

Cummins has been ruled out of Australia’s upcoming white-ball series against New Zealand and India after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress in his back.

The 32-year-old said it would be “devastating” if he missed out on the first Ashes Test, which starts on 21 November in Perth, Western Australia.

“I’m never going to go into a Test match unless I think I can finish the Test match,” Cummins said.

“But when you’re 18 or 19, you’re like, ‘let’s make sure this is the perfect rehab, whether it takes an extra six months’. Whereas, I’m happy to be a bit like, ‘well, it’s an Ashes series, whatever it takes to play it’.

“Then, say, at the end, if you’re still not 100% and you need to have a bit of a break next year, there’s not another Ashes series.”

“You’re willing to take a few risks and be a little bit aggressive to try and play as many Tests as you can,” he added.

“I’m pretty confident even if I don’t get a chance to play a [Sheffield] Shield game, I can get up to speed pretty quickly.

“I’m still doing a bit of gym work, but no real running, no bowling. Get that right and then we’ll build up to the summer.

“We’ve got loads of time, there’s about 12 weeks until the first Test. We’ll see how the next little bit pans out.”

Cummins has a history of back injuries, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss three Australian summers in four years.

In 2018, he suffered a recurrence that ruled him out of the Indian Premier League in April and an October tour of Pakistan, although he has stayed relatively free of injury since then.

Australia drew 2-2 in England to retain the Ashes in 2023 and Cummins took 18 wickets during the series.