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Cape Town - Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has
extended his contract with the national team until 2021, with Matt
Taylor and Mike Blair also re-signing.
Scotland have averaged four tries a Test since Townsend took over in the summer of 2017, with the historic home and away wins over Australia and 2018 Six Nations victory over England among the notable highlights that helped Scotland finish third in the 2018 Six Nations and capture the imagination of their support.
Townsend revealed he was delighted to have inked a new deal and also paid tribute to fellow coaches Taylor and Blair, who also sign extensions.
“I have always been incredibly proud to coach Scotland and I’m delighted and grateful to be able to extend my involvement with the national team," he told Scottish Rugby's website.
“It’s a privilege to coach such a hardworking group of quality players, which is continuing to grow in depth.
"It’s great that the immediate future of our coaching staff has also been secured, as Matt (Taylor) and Mike (Blair) contribute massively to what we do as a group.
“We are really looking forward to Danny (Wilson) joining up with us, which will enable us to seek further improvements in how we can bring the best out of our players."
Some 13 Test matches now stand between Scotland and Rugby World Cup 2019, including three Autumn Tests and the 2019 Six Nations, before four Summer Tests against France and Georgia present the players with the final opportunity to play their way into the 31-man squad heading to Japan.
After a bright start to his national team tenure, Townsend believes there is more to come for the men in blue.
“There’s certainly a lot of improvement to be found - both from us as coaches and also our playing performances - but we’ve also seen some excellent displays over the past season, as well as a genuine desire from the players to give their best for their country," he added.
“I’ve been really pleased with the way the squad has come together whenever we’ve been in camp. The players have built strong relationships with each other, trained with intensity and learned quickly after any setbacks we have faced. They have also been terrific ambassadors for their country on tours or whenever they have interacted with our supporters.
“We’re well aware we’re entering a crucial and exciting time for this group, as we continue to seek improvements across the board and target a strong Autumn Test series and Six Nations, before our build up to the Rugby World Cup begins in earnest.
"It’s an incredibly exciting time for the sport in Scotland."
