Gregor Townsend
| Full name | Gregor Peter John Townsend | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 26 April 1973 | ||
| Place of birth | Galashiels, Scotland | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||
| Weight | 93 kg (14 st 9 lb) | ||
| School | Galashiels Academy | ||
| University | University of Edinburgh Aston University | ||
| Rugby union career | |||
| Current status | |||
| Position(s) | Head Coach | ||
| Playing career | |||
| Position | Fly-half, centre or fullback | ||
| Amateur clubs | |||
| Years | Club / team | ||
| 1990–1995 1993, 1995 |
Gala RFC Warringah Rugby Club Gala Star Vets | ||
| correct as of 24 June 2014. | |||
| Professional / senior clubs | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 1995–1998 1998–2000 2000–2002 2002–2004 2004 2004–2005 2005–2007 |
Northampton Saints Brive Castres Border Reivers Natal Sharks Montpellier Border Reivers |
64 48 51 19 9 30 37 |
|
| National team(s) | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 1990–1995 1993–2003 1997 |
Barbarians Scotland British and Irish Lions French Barbarians |
4 82 2 1 |
(164) (0) |
| correct as of 24 June 2014. | |||
| Coaching career | |||
| Years | Club / team | ||
| 2005–2007 2009–2012 2012–present |
Border Reivers (player-coach) Scotland (Asst) Glasgow Warriors | ||
Gregor Peter John Townsend MBE (born 26 April 1973 in Galashiels) is a former Scottish rugby union player and now the Head Coach of the Glasgow Warriors. Townsend represented both Scotland and the British and Irish Lions winning 82 caps for Scotland (twice as captain) and two for the Lions. He has played club rugby in Scotland, Australia, England, South Africa, and France.
Playing career
Townsend was first with Gala RFC, coming through from their ranks from the mini section.[1] He won his first full cap for Scotland in March 1993. In the 1999 Five Nations Championship, Townsend scored a try against every other country, becoming the first Scotsman since 1925 to achieve this feat.[2] His efforts helped Scotland become champions.
In 1995 Gregor joined Northampton Saints and then joined Brive in 1998. In 2000 he stayed in France but moved to Castres. In 2004, free to travel the world after being relieved of Scotland duties, he represented the Natal Sharks in the then Super 12 and played the 2004–05 season with Montpellier in France. He returned to the Borders for the 2005–06 season as a player and coach.
Coaching
Townsend was appointed Backs Coach to the Scotland national team in 2009. He was then appointed Attack Coach the following season. In 2012 Townsend was appointed by the SRU to the position of Head Coach to the Glasgow Warriors.
When Townsend took over Glasgow Warriors from Sean Lineen the side had just been to play-offs in the Pro12 the previous season, finishing 4th in the league. He made consistent progress in the league with Glasgow Warriors; in his first year they finished third. In the 2013–14 season the team finished 2nd and made it to the end of season Pro12 play-off final losing to Leinster in Dublin. In his third season, 2014–15, the Warriors finished first in the Pro12 League and beat Munster in the play-off final, becoming the first Scottish side to lift the trophy.[3] Since the Pro12 officially started in 2011–12 Glasgow Warriors are the only team in the league to have made the play-offs in every year.
In August 2016 it was announced that Townsend would take charge of the Scotland national team in June 2017 after Vern Cotter's contract expires.[4]
Toonie flip
This is the name of the reverse pass which Gregor gave to Gavin Hastings for Scotland to register a dramatic and famous last-minute 23–21 victory against France in Paris in 1995.
Honours and awards
Townsend was awarded a MBE in the 1999 Queen's Birthday Honours List for services to rugby.[5]
References
- ↑ Morrison, Iain (6 May 2007). "Borders legend Toony looks back on a career far less ordinary". The Scotsman. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
- ↑ "Gregor Townsend". The Scotsman. 2 May 2002. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
- ↑ "Glasgow Warriors: Finn Russell eyes longer stay". BBC News. 11 June 2015.
- ↑ "Gregor Townsend to become Scotland Head Coach in June 2017". SRU. 17 August 2016.
- ↑ "Queen's Birthday Honours: The Full List". The Independent. 12 June 1999. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
Bibliography
- Bath, Richard (ed.) The Complete Book of Rugby (Seven Oaks Ltd, 1997 ISBN 1-86200-013-1)
- Townsend, Gregor Talk of the Toony: The Autobiography of Gregor Townsend (HarperSport, 2007 ISBN 978-0-00-725113-1)
External links
- Townsend sets date for retirement, BBC, 2 June 2006
- Townsend launches kids' summer camps, The Scotsman, 28 June 2006
- Gregor Townsend's Sporting Heroes Profile
- "Townsend admits Test career is over". The Scotsman. 2 May 2006.
- Townsend part Gregor groan, part Merlin (Telegraph, 9 March 2003)