Scottish Rugby

We asked for your thoughts after Gregor Townsend signed a contract extension to stay as Scotland head coach until 2027.

Here's what you had to say:

Gus: Should have been sacked after the Japan World Cup - what a shambles that was. Had plenty of chances, he's not good at man management with a decent group of players.

Bill: A potential disaster for Scottish rugby. Flaky as a player and the same as a coach. The Autumn Tests will see Townsend fail yet again to properly utilise the best squad Scotland have had in years.

Stewart: It's absolutely the wrong call. The team is stagnating and Townsend's erratic team selection is a constant source of frustration. He should have gone after Japan and hasn't done enough to merit the previous contract never mind this. The SRU at its best.

Ali: I'm not surprised but I am frustrated. Imagine overseeing two dismal World Cups and then being given a shot at another. I don't think any other country in world rugby would do this. It might be understandable if we'd won a couple of Six Nations titles in the interim but we've not even come close. Another two years of, at best, mediocrity. I hope I am proven wrong.

Doug: I like Gregor and he's done pretty well with the squad inherited, but our tournament results have stagnated. I don't know if we have unrealistic expectations given our lack of player pool but I think a change would have been good to give another coach a chance. It seems like keeping Gregor was the easy option.

Mark: I see no need for change purely based on longevity. I've been to more Scotland Rugby games under Townsend's tenure than I had done in the previous 15 years. Why? Attractive, attacking brand of rugby to watch supported by the highest win-loss ratio of any Scotland head coach. Townsend himself comes across as progressive, adaptable and seems to be well regarded by the players including Finn Russell. While we might not win the World Cup isn't it great to be hugely competitive again after so many barren years? For all the Townsend bashers out there, be careful what you wish for!

George: Absolutely the right decision. Who else is available who matches his calibre? His flair is apparent in the squad's plays, backed by the power and strengths brought in by his backroom team - defence coach, strength and conditioning coaches etc.

Image source, SNS

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."

Image source, Getty Images

Franco Smith has signed a new contract with Glasgow Warriors, keeping him at the club until 2028.

Smith, 53, joined Glasgow as head coach in 2022 and has overseen a period of real success.

The Warriors reached the European Challenge Cup final in his first season in charge, losing out to Toulon, before winning the URC title in the following campaign, beating the Bulls in Pretoria.

The South African has been linked with moves away from Scotland off the back of such achievements, but has now committed his future to Glasgow.

"I'm incredibly proud and grateful to extend my journey with this club," Smith said.

"From day one, I've believed in the vision we share to build something special, to push our limits, and to grow together as a team and as a community.

"The players, the people, and the supporters have created an environment full of trust and ambition, and that inspires me every single day. There's still so much more we can achieve, and I'm excited to keep working hard to take this club to the next level."

Glasgow fans, what do you make of this news? Are you pleased to see Smith stay and do you think he can continue to build with the club?

Send us your thoughts.

Head coach Gregor Townsend will lead Scotland in the 2027 World Cup after signing a contract extension.

Townsend, who took charge in 2017, was reportedly a target for the director of rugby role at Newcastle Red Bulls this summer, but will instead continue in the national job and oversee a third World Cup campaign.

What do you make of Townsend staying as Scotland boss beyond next year? Is it the right decision by Scottish Rugby, or would you have preferred a change?

Share your views here.

We asked for your views as Scotland booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Women's Rugby World Cup for the first time since 2002 with a 29-15 victory over gritty Fiji.

Here what some of you had to say:

Mark: Another fantastic advert for Women's World Cup Rugby! Individual flare from Fiji was a joy to watch & seriously stretched Scotland's experience & resilience. Terrific achievement to reach quarter finals. Next match against Canada will provide a clearer picture re further hopes & aspirations!

Gus: Well done great achievement, hopefully they get there contracts sorted out

Douglas: Not the prettiest performance but definitely a thoroughly professional performance for the women. No pressing of the panic button at any stage. And also some wonderful tries too.

Abigail: Evie Gallagher - 36 tackles? Heroic. A tough task for the team, but they delivered. Well deserving of their place in the quarters.

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Molly Wright says Scotland now have their sights set on beating Canada and topping Pool B after victory over Fiji secured a quarter-final berth in the Women's Rugby World Cup.

The Scots ran in five tries to see off a spirited Fiji side 29-15 in Salford on Saturday.

They now face Canada, ranked second in the world, in Exeter next weekend in a shootout for top spot in the pool.

After exiting at the pool stage at the last World Cup in 2021, Wright is thrilled to reach the knockout stages this time around.

"Three years too late, but we're here now, so really, really excited," the front row told BBC Scotland.

"We wanted to play our structure. We didn't want to get pulled into their chaos, and Fiji are so good at chaos.

"When they cause it, they run rampant and it's fun to watch. It's not so fun to watch when you're playing against it.

"But when we got our process right, it was effective. I think that's what got us through.

"The only way for us is up. Each week we want to get better.

"Canada will present a different challenge, but it will be a real test for us moving forward into the latter stages of the World Cup now.

"I think there's more pressure on them than there is on us, for sure, but we want to take it to them. We want to be top of the pool, and we're going to go after it."

Scotland booked a place in the quarter-finals of the Women's Rugby World Cup for the first time since 2002 with victory over gritty Fiji in Salford.

Read the full match report here

Have your say here.

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Elis Martin says Scotland have prepared for an improved Fiji in their crucial Women's World Cup Pool B match on Saturday.

Should pool favourites Canada defeat Wales earlier in the day, the Scots will take to the field at the Salford Community Stadium knowing a win would guarantee a place in the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 2002.

The sides last met in September 2024 when the Scots ran out 59-15 winners, but Martin warns Fiji are now a different proposition.

"We've obviously watched quite a few of their games and you can tell that they've been working on getting fitter, making sure that they are putting on a show," said Martin, who replaces Lana Skeldon at hooker in the only change to the side that beat Wales.

"Their game last week against Canada was a difficult scoreline [a 65-7 defeat], but at the end of the day, they still posed massive threats to Canada.

"They scored through them and they offloaded and got in behind them. And that's something that we're looking to stop at source and really shut down.

"So absolutely, they're better than they were before, but so are we, so we'll see what happens."

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, Getty

Captain Rachel Malcolm says the Scotland players have had to "decompress" following the high of their opening Women's World Cup victory over Wales before they take on Fiji on Saturday.

The Scots produced a scintillating display to win 38-8 in their Pool B opener and know victory over Fiji in Salford in Saturday could seal their place in the quarter-finals.

Malcom says rather than simply riding the momentum from one game to the next, the squad have had to wind down before building up for another big performance.

"I think everyone looks at winning and thinks that you just go from cloud nine to 10, but often there's a little bit of emotional decompress, and I think we've felt that a little bit this week," said Malcolm.

"It's just been about managing the week. I think, obviously, Saturday, Sunday, we were absolutely buzzing. That is something that we've built towards for three years [when Scotland exited the World Cup at the pool stage].

"That heart rate that we had three years ago to come in reverse, that definitely took some out of us emotionally.

"The focus that we've had this week around kind of really switching our gameplan a little bit, because we're playing almost a polar opposite in terms of playing style, has been really good.

"The attention to detail around the different players that Fiji have and the different threats that they have has been so good.

"But we know we need to be back up performance-wise exactly where we were on Saturday to get that result against Fiji."

Scotland are now viewed as a "genuine threat" following the statement win over Wales in the Women's World Cup opener, says former skipper Lisa Martin.

Having been dogged by player contract uncertainty in the build-up to the tournament, Scotland cast off that turmoil with a 38-8 walloping of Wales.

"There might have been a little bit of that being fuelled by the contract situation, which as frustrating and annoying as it is, that has been taking the headlines pre-match, but is completely a footnote now," said Martin on the BBC's Scottish Rugby Podcast.

"The thing that we're talking about is how well they are able to play and you're hoping the likes of Scottish Rugby can look at that and be like, well, this is the respect we need to be giving these guys.

"The performance they've put out there shows they are worthy of so much better and hopefully it's something that can be rectified going forward and that we never have to have these conversations going into a major tournament that there's uncertainty for about 16 to 18 players as to what they're going to do come October.

"People are starting to take notice of the squad and seeing them as being dangerous threats rather than it's just Scotland, it'll be fine.

"I remember speaking to a few of the England girls a number of years ago and when it always came to the Scotland-England matches, no one was ever really picked out.

"Whereas now, you're looking at threat players and you're saying, well, we need to do something to negate what Francesca McGhie can do. We need to do something that's going to negate Evie Gallagher's ability to win turnovers and stuff.

"People are starting to see Scotland as a genuine threat and a genuine favourite. It's fantastic to see that it's transcended beyond women's sport, it's now sport and people are excited to see Scotland play and see the likes of Francesca and Evie and Chloe Rollie."

Image source, Getty Images

Former Scotland women's captain Lisa Martin says a prospective move to Newcastle Falcons could appeal to Gregor Townsend.

The current Scotland men's head coach's contract expires in April 2026, but he has been linked, external with a move to English club Newcastle Red Bulls to become their director of rugby.

"It's definitely something that you'd think would turn his head a little bit," Martin told the BBC Scotland Rugby Podcast.

"It's something different, it goes back to a bit of full-time coaching again for him because in the international set-up, you don't really do much hands-on coaching.

"I suppose you look at Scottish Rugby at the minute, there's just a massive kind of bottleneck in terms of coaching, we've had coaches having to move on elsewhere because there is nowhere else for them to go further up the set-up.

"I think it would be a sensible thing from a wider perspective to maybe encourage Gregor to look at other options but I suppose it's down to him.

"Is he wanting to continue his project with Scotland and try and get the success that we've all been talking about that this generation needs and expects to have?

"Or is it time to cut your losses and say I've done what I can, let's move on and let's see what can I do with a brand new project and create a new legacy within Newcastle Red Bulls?"

With the next edition of the men's Rugby World Cup taking place in 2027, BBC Scotland chief sportswriter Tom English believes Townsend may want another crack at that competition before he moves on.

"He can't stay forever," English added. "I think the SRU were planning that he was going to stay until the World Cup and then there'll be a parting.

"But Newcastle is a very interesting project and if he is on the list, I could see why that might have appeal.

"It's a brand new trainset. It's a fantastic opportunity day-to-day at a club with low expectations but big budget. That would appeal to most coaches.

"But Townsend has said constantly his love of this job. This is not only a job to him, it's a kind of way of life."

Image source, PA Media

Scotland head coach Brian Easson says his side made Wales "look pretty ordinary" in their opening Women's World Cup win.

The Scots won 38-8, with Fran McGhie scoring three of the Scots' six tries.

"We were ruthless all the way through," Easson said on BBC One. "We were pretty dangerous and defensively we made Wales look pretty ordinary.

"Once we got our kicking game right, I thought we managed the game pretty well and then there was only one team in it.

"The togetherness of this group is unbelievable. I know people talk about cultures and environments, I've never been in an environment like it. They are so tight together and they fight together.

"We knew the magnitude of this game, this was a big one. The focus was firmly on Wales, the focus as of now is on Fiji."

We asked for your views on Scotland's 38-8 victory over Wales in their Women's World Cup opener, where Fran McGhie scored three of the Scots' six tries.

Here's what some of you said:

Bob: Brian Easson deserves a huge amount of credit for the way he has built the squad. I remember him as the SRU development coach for the Highlands, he was outstanding in that role. I just hope the SRU are not stupid enough to lose him.

Kenny: An excellent team performance but let's not get carried away. Wales turned us over a couple of times and the breakdown a danger area. But the attack is sharp. Lets go Scotland!

Chris: Fran McGhie looked like the complete player. Her hat-trick was brilliant. She needed to really work for the first one, showing her dancing feet to beat several defenders. Likewise her try-saving tackles were phenomenal! I was roaring at the TV in celebration when she ran back to scythe down the Welsh runners.

Mark: For any Scottish Rugby enthusiast the women's team has become a must watch in the sporting calendar. I thought the defence and attacking intent was immense. A strong squad camaraderie is also clearly evident. Here's hoping the win will attract even more fans and help springboard them into the quarter finals.

Jane: Possibly one of the best performances I've seen the women produce. The bonus is there are still areas to improve. Rachel Malcolm's leadership is outstanding. Cannot wait to watch them done in Manchester next weekend!

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland in Salford

Image source, PA Media

Rachel Malcolm says Scotland's six-try demolition of Wales in their Women's Rugby World Cup opener is one of her greatest days as national captain.

Malcolm led her country for the 50th time and was part of an outstanding Scottish performance that made a mockery of pre-match predictions of a tight affair.

"It's probably up there with one of the best performances, let alone scorelines that I've been a part of as captain, as part of the squad," Malcolm told BBC Scotland.

"I think we were just extremely efficient and professional and there's a bit of an inevitability about everything that we did. It just makes me so proud of the group and how hard they've worked for that performance.

"There's nothing that can break this group. It's what our X-factor is, it's just how together we are as a group. Whether it's on-pitch, off-pitch, we'll always stick together and fight for each other..

"That's what makes results like that so special to be a part of because we know what we have and what we have is so special."