'Massive honour' as Townsend extends Scotland tenure

Gregor Townsend is "hugely motivated" to drive Scotland forward after extending his contract through to the 2027 World Cup.

The 52-year-old is Scotland's longest-serving head coach in the professional era and will have led the team for a decade by the end of his new deal.

After disappointments in both the 2019 and 2023 World Cups as Townsend's Scotland were eliminated in the pool stages, he is determined to "help the team perform to its potential" in the 2027 tournament in Australia.

"Being the Scotland head coach is a massive honour for me personally, a true privilege," Townsend said on the Scottish Rugby website.

"The opportunity to coach my country at another Rugby World Cup is exciting and I am hugely motivated to help the team perform to its potential.

"Over recent years I have been really encouraged by the progress the team has made and the depth we have built in a number of positions.

"The experiences from our summer tour and also the [British and Irish] Lions tour will add an extra layer to our group. Having 12 players out on the Lions tour was tremendous for Scottish rugby and the players.

"It is going to be an exciting build-up period to the World Cup with the potential of a new competition for our summer and autumn fixtures in 2026 as well as two Six Nations Championships for us to attack.

"And this November we have a cracking run of home fixtures, which will include celebrating the centenary of our national stadium when we take on New Zealand."