Sir Clive Woodward has criticised Gregor Townsend for accepting additional responsibilities beyond his position as Scotland head coach. The Rugby World Cup-winner suggests Townsend would have been “better off concentrating on his day job.”
It emerged in early October that Townsend had accepted a consultancy position advising Red Bull’s rugby projects. The arrangement sees him working closely with Newcastle Red Bulls following the Premiership side’s takeover by the energy drinks giant earlier this year. Townsend’s arrangement involves up to 30 days per year helping Red Bull with their rugby expansion. The Scotland chief, who was linked with an exit earlier this year, has insisted he will prevent any conflicts of interest arising between his dual positions, but that assurance hasn’t satisfied Woodward.
The former England head coach delivered a scathing assessment of Townsend’s extra work. And he argued he hasn’t achieved enough with Scotland to justify taking on more commitments.
“Scotland still haven’t won anything with their golden generation of players, and the worry I have for them is the next cohort doesn’t look anywhere near as talented,” Woodward told the Daily Mail. “Scotland have struggled at Under-20 level in recent years and that doesn’t bode well.
“Gregor Townsend is under pressure after agreeing to work for Red Bull alongside his current role with Scotland. He’d have been better off concentrating on his day job.”
Scotland, who kick off their autumn schedule against the United States on Saturday, have seen a significant upturn in fortunes since Townsend took the reins of his old team in 2017. The ex-British and Irish Lion has instilled a winning mentality at Murrayfield, transforming Scotland from the perennial Six Nations underdogs to a formidable force.
The Scottish Rugby Union has broadened its talent search, successfully integrating overseas stars into the squad. The dual-club system between Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh has also proved fruitful, consistently producing a stream of young talent.
Under Townsend’s leadership, Scotland have either won or drawn six out of the last eight Calcutta Cup matches against England. They’ve also secured third place in the Six Nations twice and only finished below fourth on two occasions, a marked improvement from their previous performances.
However, if Townsend’s workload at Red Bull is as demanding, it’s not reflected in Newcastle’s results so far this season. The Red Bulls are yet to secure even a bonus point in five Premiership matches, conceding an average of more than 40 points per game.
Director of rugby Steve Diamond was dismissed shortly after Townsend’s appointment was announced. Meanwhile, the Scotland boss has reaffirmed his commitment to the SRU by extending his contract until 2027.
Supporters may recall a similar situation with former England head coach Eddie Jones, who juggled a consultancy role with Japanese team Suntory Sungoliath while leading the Red Rose. And his dual roles were questioned as a potential distraction during England’s slump in form.