Gregor Townsend has denied signing a deal to become Newcastle Red Bulls\u2019 director of rugby after the 2027 World Cup, claiming reports are an effort to disrupt his team\u2019s Six Nations start.<\/p>\n
His words come amid initial reports from the\u00a0Telegraph<\/a>\u00a0that he had agreed to take over the role with the newly-cashed-up PREM side at the conclusion of next year\u2019s tournament in Australia, when his current deal with the Scottish rugby union runs out.<\/p>\n Townsend already has a part-time consultancy role with the Red Bulls, advising them on strategy and philosophy.<\/p>\n \u2018There\u2019s no truth I\u2019ve signed\u2019<\/p>\n This is not the first time Townsend has seen his name linked with the top job at Kingston Park, with initial reports in the summer suggesting he was a possible candidate; however, he has now denied these suggestions.<\/p>\n Scotland team winners and losers: Gregor Townsend\u2019s \u2018sensational selection call\u2019 as trio become \u2018victims\u2019 of law change<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s pure speculation,\u201d Townsend<\/a> told members of the media ahead of his side\u2019s Six Nations clash with Italy. \u201cI\u2019ve not signed a contract beyond the World Cup with anybody.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a story that I think has been put out there to try to disrupt before this week\u2019s game (against Italy) or next week\u2019s game against England.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just something that comes out, things like this, before the England game in particular.<\/p>\n Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for world-class coverage you can trust.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s no truth I\u2019ve signed the contract beyond the World Cup, and my focus is on the Scotland team right now and hopefully up until the World Cup.\u201d<\/p>\n Scotland team: Greatest try-scorers dropped as Gregor Townsend backs Glasgow Warriors core for Six Nations opener<\/a><\/p>\n These reports linking him with a move away from Murrayfield also come with the head coach under pressure this Six Nations.<\/p>\n