Overview

• Gregor Townsend has agreed to stay on as Scotland head coach through the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, with formal confirmation expected from the SRU.
• Franco Smith has signed a two-year Glasgow Warriors extension to 2028, easing succession talk after previous speculation he might depart.
• Townsend is Scotland’s longest-serving professional-era coach with 53 wins from 94 Tests, but his teams exited the 2019 and 2023 World Cups at the pool stage and have not finished higher than third in the Six Nations.
• Scotland’s July loss to Fiji left them eighth in the world rankings, complicating prospects for 2027 World Cup seeding.
• Scotland host November Tests at Murrayfield against the United States, New Zealand, Argentina and Tonga as preparations continue for the next cycle.