
'Not something I've thought much about' – Townsend on Scotland future
Recently-appointed Scottish Rugby chief executive Alex Williamson indicated last month that he would be keen to retain Townsend.
Gregor Townsend is not focused on his Scotland future (Jane Barlow/PA)
Asked if there had been any developments regarding his future, Townsend, speaking on Thursday from the Scots' summer tour base in New Zealand, said: 'Well, it's not really been discussed, it's not something that tends to get discussed when we're in campaigns.
'We don't have the time, really, and the focus is on making sure we prepare the team as well as we can this week and over the next two weeks.
'Honestly, it's not something I've thought that much about. A lot goes into preparation for a tour and then on tour, and there'll be plenty of time to discuss whether Scottish Rugby feel that they want me to continue and also what I want to do at the end of my contract. But it won't be something that will be decided over the next few weeks.'
Asked if he was keen to remain in charge for the 2027 World Cup in Australia, Townsend said: 'As I said, it's not something I've spent a lot of time thinking about. This job gives me a huge purpose in my life, but it also demands a lot of energy. And just now all my energy is going into helping the other coaches and the team.'

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Powys County Times
an hour ago
- Powys County Times
Sarina Wiegman has ‘concern' with social media but won't police England's usage
England boss Sarina Wiegman concedes social media is a 'concern' but refuses to police her players' use of the platforms. Striker Alessia Russo recently revealed she will be avoiding social media at the Women's European Championship in Switzerland after falling into the scrolling 'trap' at the 2022 tournament, where the Lionesses secured their first major trophy, but others have suggested they will be less rigid. That home triumph catapulted both England's players and their manager into the public eye in ways both welcome and challenging. 'Yes, there is a concern,' said Wiegman, speaking from England's Zurich base on Wednesday. 'Of course you want to share, players, especially this generation, wants to share what they're doing, but you can't control how the outside world responds. And many people respond so nicely, but there's some that don't respond that well. 'With the team we make principles of how to use social media when and I would never say 'you're not allowed to use social media' because that's not how I work. 'We want to set standards, but I think coaching is about helping development, but also giving players responsibility – from being dependent to independent and helping players make their own decisions and understand what the consequence of their decisions can be. Training ✅Sightseeing on Lake Zurich ✅ Day two in Switzerland🇨🇭 — Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 2, 2025 'And then, yes, sometimes you make a mistake and then you learn from a mistake. That's why I also think making mistakes are so important to learn from it.' Wiegman could lift her third straight European trophy as a coach – and first away from home – having also led her native the Netherlands to glory on home soil in 2017. The 55-year-old feels she has become more relaxed about rules since arriving in England in September 2021, and likens the team to a family where the bonds between members vary and disagreements inevitably arise. Build-up to this tournament was hardly harmonious. Two popular players from Wiegman's Euro 2022-winning squad, goalkeeper Mary Earps and attacking midfielder Fran Kirby, called quits on their international careers days before the June 5 squad announcement, then World Cup captain Millie Bright withdrew from selection in order to address her physical and mental health. In the wake, Wiegman, to whom criticism had been largely limited to tactical or selection choices, was facing questions from some corners about her personal approach. And while Wiegman has grown to love a Sunday roast, she admitted sometimes navigating the English preference for subtext can be difficult for someone accustomed to Dutch directness. 'For me, I am actually very caring and that's often not very helpful in this job,' she said. 'I want to take care of people, but I have a job where I have to make hard decisions. Then I, as a former player and maybe as a mum, I'm trying to not put myself in their shoes and think 'oh, they must feel horrible' because I have to shut that out for that moment.' Wiegman added: 'When I have conversations with players, I think it's really important to have clarity. 'Especially now closer to the tournament that I give clarity that tomorrow things could change like [that]. 'What I try to do is give them as much information as possible. The players call that direct but I think, do not confuse that with being blunt. I am not blunt – well, I hope not. I am trying to be honest and clear about things to give them context.'

The National
an hour ago
- The National
Wimbledon exit shows Jack Draper ‘still got a lot of areas to improve'
The British number one is still yet to make it beyond the last 64 at his home grand slam and, having come into the tournament as the fourth seed after a brilliant season so far, the 6-4 6-3 1-6 6-4 defeat was his most painful yet. Great credit must go to 36-year-old former finalist Cilic, who, having disappeared from view amid two knee operations, produced a sublime performance on Court One. Jack Draper reacts to his defeat at a press conference (Benjamin Gilbert/PA) But Draper was unable to find the tennis he needed to put his Croatian opponent under consistent pressure, and spoke afterwards about how difficult he finds grass. 'Very frustrated,' said the 23-year-old. 'Obviously, really upset. Probably one of the toughest losses I feel. I thought Cilic played an incredible match from start to finish. Didn't let up. He deserved the win. But it hurts a lot. 'I've been really disappointed with the way my game's been on the grass this year, in all honesty. 'I felt great on the hard, felt great on the clay. My game, I felt like there wasn't many holes, whereas, as soon as I came on to the grass, I felt a big difference. Upset alert 🚨 Croatia's Marin Cilic stuns Jack Draper 6-4, 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 to knock the No.4 seed out of The Championships 2025 😮#Wimbledon — Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 3, 2025 'Even though I've had such an amazing progression the last 12 months, I've still got a lot of areas that I need to improve in my game. In some ways that's exciting, and in some ways that's hard to deal with because I thought I was ahead of where I was.' Draper put his head in his hands when he was asked whether the pressure of home expectation had contributed to the loss. Citing Andy Murray, he said: 'It makes me think that Andy's achievement of what he did winning here twice, just unbelievable. It's not the pressure, it's not the whatever. I just didn't play good enough today. I lost to a better player.' Cilic lost to Roger Federer in the 2017 final, three years after winning his only grand slam title at the US Open, and is a proven performer on grass having won the Queen's crown twice. Marin Cilic rolled back the years to beat Jack Draper (Mike Egerton/PA) He returned to the top 100 by winning the second-tier Challenger event in Nottingham last month and it was clear from the first moments of the contest that his ranking of 83 gave little indication of the danger he would pose. Cilic, who was watched by his two young sons, showed he has not lost the metronomic quality of his flat, deep ground strokes, and Draper just could not find any semblance of control. Cilic, competing at Wimbledon for the first time in four years, played an incredible returning game to clinch the opening set, and it was clear Draper was in big trouble when the Croatian made it five games in a row. It was not until Draper really let rip early in the third set that he gave himself and the crowd hope of mounting a first successful comeback from two sets to love down. But he could not force the break early in the fourth set and, the longer the match went on, the more it appeared there was only one winner. Jack Draper slips on his way to defeat (Ben Whitley/PA) Draper, meanwhile, became the first player to really question the accuracy of the electronic line calling, which has replaced line judges, after reacting with disbelief to a couple of decisions. 'I don't think it's 100 per cent accurate,' he said. 'I think it's a shame, tradition, that the umpires aren't involved.' The 23-year-old admitted he will probably stay away from the All England Club for the rest of the tournament, but he hopes Emma Raducanu can help make it a successful championships for the home nation nevertheless. 'Emma is playing great,' said Draper. 'I watched her play yesterday. That was amazing. She has a real opportunity. I hope she goes on and does us all proud. She's definitely got the capability to do that.'


The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
Wimbledon exit shows Jack Draper ‘still got a lot of areas to improve'
Great credit must go to 36-year-old former finalist Cilic, who, having disappeared from view amid two knee operations, produced a sublime performance on Court One. Jack Draper reacts to his defeat at a press conference (Benjamin Gilbert/PA) But Draper was unable to find the tennis he needed to put his Croatian opponent under consistent pressure, and spoke afterwards about how difficult he finds grass. 'Very frustrated,' said the 23-year-old. 'Obviously, really upset. Probably one of the toughest losses I feel. I thought Cilic played an incredible match from start to finish. Didn't let up. He deserved the win. But it hurts a lot. 'I've been really disappointed with the way my game's been on the grass this year, in all honesty. 'I felt great on the hard, felt great on the clay. My game, I felt like there wasn't many holes, whereas, as soon as I came on to the grass, I felt a big difference. Upset alert 🚨 Croatia's Marin Cilic stuns Jack Draper 6-4, 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 to knock the No.4 seed out of The Championships 2025 😮#Wimbledon — Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 3, 2025 'Even though I've had such an amazing progression the last 12 months, I've still got a lot of areas that I need to improve in my game. In some ways that's exciting, and in some ways that's hard to deal with because I thought I was ahead of where I was.' Draper put his head in his hands when he was asked whether the pressure of home expectation had contributed to the loss. Citing Andy Murray, he said: 'It makes me think that Andy's achievement of what he did winning here twice, just unbelievable. It's not the pressure, it's not the whatever. I just didn't play good enough today. I lost to a better player.' Cilic lost to Roger Federer in the 2017 final, three years after winning his only grand slam title at the US Open, and is a proven performer on grass having won the Queen's crown twice. Marin Cilic rolled back the years to beat Jack Draper (Mike Egerton/PA) He returned to the top 100 by winning the second-tier Challenger event in Nottingham last month and it was clear from the first moments of the contest that his ranking of 83 gave little indication of the danger he would pose. Cilic, who was watched by his two young sons, showed he has not lost the metronomic quality of his flat, deep ground strokes, and Draper just could not find any semblance of control. Cilic, competing at Wimbledon for the first time in four years, played an incredible returning game to clinch the opening set, and it was clear Draper was in big trouble when the Croatian made it five games in a row. It was not until Draper really let rip early in the third set that he gave himself and the crowd hope of mounting a first successful comeback from two sets to love down. But he could not force the break early in the fourth set and, the longer the match went on, the more it appeared there was only one winner. Jack Draper slips on his way to defeat (Ben Whitley/PA) Draper, meanwhile, became the first player to really question the accuracy of the electronic line calling, which has replaced line judges, after reacting with disbelief to a couple of decisions. 'I don't think it's 100 per cent accurate,' he said. 'I think it's a shame, tradition, that the umpires aren't involved.' The 23-year-old admitted he will probably stay away from the All England Club for the rest of the tournament, but he hopes Emma Raducanu can help make it a successful championships for the home nation nevertheless. 'Emma is playing great,' said Draper. 'I watched her play yesterday. That was amazing. She has a real opportunity. I hope she goes on and does us all proud. She's definitely got the capability to do that.'