Gregor Townsend joins Scotland coaching staff

FORMER Lions stand-off Gregor Townsend was today appointed Scotland's backs coach for this year's RBS 6 Nations Championship.

He succeeds Sean Lineen, who it had already been announced was stepping down to focus on his role as Glasgow head coach.

Lineen had performed the role during last summer's tour to Argentina and the autumn internationals against New Zealand, South Africa and Canada.

Former Scotland captain Townsend said: "I'm delighted to have been invited by Frank Hadden to become backs coach for this year's Six Nations.

"I can't wait to get started working with the players and the challenge of getting them to perform consistently at their best level."

Townsend, who won a then-record 82 caps for his country in a 10-year Test career, has been promoted from his role working with Scotland A and Edinburgh.

He will work alongside Frank Hadden and his assistant coaches, Mike Brewer and Graham Steadman.

Lineen and his Edinburgh counterpart, Andy Robinson, will continue to be involved in national team selection.

Hadden said: "Gregor has already made a considerable impact in working with the players at Edinburgh and Scotland A, and the support he has championed for players through the Winning Scotland Foundation's mentoring programme underlines the appetite from elite players for the experience and technical guidance that he brings.

"I think it significant too with all Gregor's experience as a player that he will be able to offer one-on-one advice to Scotland players and that insight can only be valuable especially in the year of a British and Irish Lions tour."