SRU chief addresses the future of Gregor Townsend and Richard Cockerill

Mark Dodson wants to keep Scotland and Edinburgh coaches ‘inside the Scottishrugby family’

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend is contracted until next summer. Picture: Ross Parker / SNS

SRU chief executive Mark Dodson is confident that both Scotland and Edinburgh coaches Gregor Townsend and Richard Cockerill will extend their stays beyond next summer.

Amid the chaos thrown up by the coronavirus and concern about when and how rugby can get going again it is creeping up to the point where two of the main men in Scottish rugby will be out of contract in just over a year’s time.

“We are in constant contact with them and I speak to them two or three times a week,” said Dodson.

Richard Cockerill has another year left on his Edinburgh deal. Picture: Ross Parker / SNS

“There was a connection with Richard going to Gloucester in the papers. But you could name teams like Montpellier, Clermont, Lyon, Harlequins. We’ve got coaches here that whenever there is a vacancy, in reality those guys are going to be mentioned.

“The guys have contracts until the summer of ‘21. It’s our intention to keep them both inside the Scottish rugby family and we’ll have the proper conversation at the appropriate time but they both know how much they are loved and we’ll tell you when we have to. These guys, [new Glasgow coach] Danny [Wilson] included, will be mentioned in almost every coaching vacancy.”

Both Townsend and Cockerill have been in their posts since 2017, adding one-year extensions through to next summer, and Dodson expects them to be here beyond that.

“Yes I think so. We’re keen to keep them to build on the success they’ve had,” he said.

There has been some disquiet from Warriors fans about the lack of recruitment activity at Scotstoun in comparison with Edinburgh, who have signed a number of players, including lock Andrew Davidson from their Scottish rivals.

Dodson said: “Rugby trading usually opens in December and it’s my experience if you don’t do any by March you’re in a bit of bother.

“All the major deals have been tied, they’re just not ready. Danny is now taking over and wants to be involved in that. Richard is in his third season now and knows what he wants to do. It’s an accident of timing.”

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