Gregor Townsend will head into the 2026 Six Nations under significant pressure following an underwhelming Autumn Nations Series, but the Scotland head coach is expected to remain in charge through to the 2027 Rugby World Cup after agreeing a contract extension late last year.
Red Bull calling
Despite that backing, Townsend already appears to have his next role lined up beyond his international tenure.
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According to a report by Telegraph Sport, the former Scotland fly-half is expected to take up a senior position with Newcastle Red Bulls once his Scotland contract expires.
Townsend is already on the Red Bull payroll in a part-time consultancy role, advising the Premiership club on long-term strategy and rugby philosophy. Multiple sources believe he will move to Kingston Park on a full-time basis after Australia 2027, most likely as director of rugby.
Succession plans in motion
While nothing has been formally finalised, Townsend is widely expected to step away from the Scotland job after the World Cup, with Glasgow Warriors head coach Franco Smith emerging as the leading candidate to succeed him.
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From mercurial 10 to master tactician
The 51-year-old boasts an extensive rugby CV. As a player, he won 82 caps for Scotland, toured with the British & Irish Lions in 1997 and enjoyed a successful club career with Border Reivers and Northampton Saints. As a coach, he led Glasgow Warriors to the Pro12 title in 2015 before taking charge of Scotland in 2017, overseeing a sustained period of competitiveness and regular Six Nations contention.
Kingston Park reshuffle
Newcastle are already laying the groundwork for his arrival. Former Wales fly-half Stephen Jones has been recruited as a senior assistant coach, while current head coach Alan Dickens is not expected to be offered a new deal. Ex-Ulster boss Dan McFarland is also tipped to join the setup.
Heat still on at Murrayfield
Townsend’s Scotland tenure has been questioned after late collapses against New Zealand and Argentina, but Scottish Rugby chief executive Alex Williamson has insisted the union will not make a reactionary call.
Scotland’s Five man shortlist to replace Gregor Townsend as head coach
5 Simon Easterby
Highly rated within Irish rugby circles, Simon Easterby has begun to build a reputation as a future international head coach. His first real opportunity came in late 2024 when he stepped in as Ireland’s interim boss while Andy Farrell took charge of the British & Irish Lions. That spell began encouragingly, with a Six Nations victory over England in early 2025 highlighting his calm authority and tactical clarity.
Easterby has operated at the top level for several years, initially as Ireland’s forwards coach before successfully switching to defence in 2021. While his senior head coaching experience remains limited, his exposure to elite environments and modern systems is considerable. A move to Scotland would represent a major step, but the chance to lead a national side outright may prove tempting.
4 Greig Laidlaw
4 Greig Laidlaw
Few figures have shaped modern Scottish rugby quite like Greig Laidlaw. A talismanic presence for nearly a decade, he won 76 caps, captained Scotland a record 39 times and retired as the nation’s second-highest points scorer. Calm under pressure and fiercely competitive, Laidlaw embodied leadership throughout a demanding international career.
Since retiring in 2019, he has quietly begun his coaching journey in Japan, gaining experience away from the scrutiny of the Test arena. While still very much a long-term project, his deep understanding of Scottish rugby culture sets him apart. Experience at both scrum-half and fly-half gives him a broad tactical perspective, while his influence off the field was universally respected. Appointing Laidlaw would be a bold, future-facing decision rather than an immediate solution, but one worth watching closely.
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