GREGOR Townsend has admitted he was flattered to be offered a coaching post on the British and Irish Lions’ tour to New Zealand next summer, but insisted that taking charge of Scotland had to be his priority.
The Glasgow Warriors coach will move from Scotstoun to Murrayfield next June, succeeding Vern Cotter as head coach to the national team. Scotland tour Australia at the same time as the Lions take on the All Blacks, so it would have been impossible for Townsend to do both.
“I was only approached ten days ago,” he said of the offer from Lions coach Warren Gatland. “Obviously I was flattered by the approach, but my priority now is Glasgow - but by the end of the season Scotland are going on tour and that will be my priority then.
“The offer threw me a little bit, because I didn’t expect an offer. I wanted time to reflect and to make my decision after some thinking time. I had a good think. I didn’t give an immediate answer.
“I really wanted to reflect on what was involved, but quickly realised the Scotland tour to Australia is my number one priority at the end of the season. I had to go back to him a couple of days later [and explain] that the timing wasn’t going to work for me.”
It is understood that Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt, a New Zealander, has also turned down an approach from Gatland, who will announce his assistants next Wednesday. Rob Howley and Neil Jenkins of Wales are expected to be joined by Englishmen Andy Farrell and Steve Borthwick.
Asked what role he was offered, Townsend declined to be specific. “Part of the coaching staff,” he added. “I don’t want to go into too much depth. To be approached was great, and I’m sure Warren will talk about his coaching staff next week so I’ll leave him to talk about that in more detail. I feel hugely privileged to be given the Scotland coaching job, and I’m privileged to be working with the Scotland players when the Lions tour is going on.”
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