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International

Gregor Townsend edges closer to early Scotland exit

Neil Fissler

Published: 205 days ago | 22 November 2025 02:52 PST

Scotland's head coach Gregor Townsend on the field ahead of the Autumn Nations Series international rugby union match between Scotland and Argentina at Murrayfield in Edinburgh on November 16, 2025. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP) (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Does Gregor Townsend’s uneasy showdown with the Scottish media ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Tonga show us that he is heading towards the Murrayfield exit door and an early move to Newcastle Red Bulls?

A dismal Autumn Nations Series has left the Scotland boss fighting to save his job, despite penning an extension in September that will take him through until after the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.

Townsend’s decision to take a second job with the Austrian-owned Red Bull hasn’t gone down well north of the border, despite suggestions that it could lead them to invest some much-needed cash in Scottish Rugby.

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One of rugby’s worst-kept secrets is that he has then agreed to take charge of Newcastle, whom he is advising on strategy and philosophy as part of a 30-day-a-year consulting deal with the energy drink giant on its global rugby strategy.

Scotland have slumped to ninth in the latest World Rugby rankings after losing to a weak New Zealand side 23-17 and imploding from 21-0 up against Argentina last weekend to lose 33-24 to leave Townsend on the brink.

He has been in charge of Scotland for eight years, but they have exited the last two World Cups at the pool stage and have also won only two of five games in three of the last four Six Nations campaigns.

The knives are out for Townsend in Scotland, who were booed off the pitch last weekend, but he came out swinging in his pre-match media conference yesterday. “I’m here to address anything,” he said.

Adding: “I’ve seen the team play the best rugby it’s played in the eight years over the last two or three weeks. Now, we’re very disappointed we didn’t get a win against New Zealand and Argentina.

“We created enough against New Zealand, and we were 21-0 up against Argentina. To get in those positions, to be 21-0 up, the team is delivering up to that point.”

And the whispers reaching Fissler Towers every day are growing stronger, that nobody would be surprised if Townsend wasn’t ousted from Edinburgh and installed at Kingston Park before the start of the Six Nations.

Newcastle’s situation is dire. They are bottom of the Gallagher PREM with five defeats from five and no points despite a late flurry of signings by former Director of Rugby Steve Diamond, who was sacked as soon as Townsend’s role was announced.

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Comments

5 Comments

HCK 204 days ago

Totally agree with CM’s comments.

Scotland is a team of extremely talented players but there has been a mental fragility and soft underbelly about them that has been present for a while. Most teams would now be relishing playing against them these days.

It seems that that has been lacking in the coaching/leadership structure of late.

I was fortunate enough to be present at Murrayfield yonks ago when David Sole led out Scotland to a walk (unheard of at the time - everyone used to run out on to the pitch) to win the Grand Slam against England. That side had a game plan, grit, passion and oodles of talent.

The current side has three out of the four - they just need the game plan.

CM 205 days ago

Would disagree with one point in the article. It was not a weak Kiwi team. In the past NZ have been able to put out a B team against Scotland and still win. That would allow the A team to play better opposition before and after. However the last few games have been closer and the Kiwis actually didn’t make many changes other than enforced injury changes from the Ireland game.

I actually think England did benefit from this as the top NZ players had to go three weeks in a row. I’m not saying England wouldn’t have won anyway but think it might have helped.

The end of the Argentina game was awful, and indefensible.

Since GT has been in charge we have played SA, NZ, and Ireland about 16 times. We have lost every game. These games have more often than not been very one-sided.

GT talks about playing well and at times we do play attractive exciting rugby, but sport is about winning first, entertaining second and on that basis being knocked out the RWC at the pool stage twice and finishing generally fourth in the 6N, then his record is poor.

Matt Perry 205 days ago

Early?? It's about six years late!

Ives da Champion 205 days ago

Same

Dave Didley 205 days ago

If he seriously believes they've just played their best rugby of the last 8 years, then he should already be gone.

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