Townsend expects close friend to be in demand

ONE of Chris Paterson’s closest friends and mentors, Gregor Townsend, believes that Scottish rugby may have a bit of competition if they are to keep his experience and expertise in the game.

Townsend is confident that Paterson would be a good supporting influence during the 2012 RBS Six Nations Championship and can envisage a career as a specialist goal-kicking or more general coach for the payer who trained as a PE teacher.

He said: “There is definitely scope for him to be involved with Scotland in the Six Nations. I think he’ll be in demand, not just from elements of Scottish rugby, but other clubs and businesses will also be interested in having someone like him on board. I would like to believe that we can get him involved with the Six Nations, but it’s his first Six Nations not playing for 12 years so he might not want to be involved and might want to get away from it.

“There is a genuine, almost universal affection for Chris throughout the world game. He has not polarised opinions, he’s taken for what he is, a hard-working, dedicated, humble player who gives his time up to people off the field and has inspired people with his actions on it.

“He has some ideas, but obviously he has to focus on his rugby career with Edinburgh. Fingers crossed, this could be a breakthrough year for Edinburgh in the European Cup and what a fitting time for him, having played in one quarter-final eight years ago, to reach another and in a team that is playing rugby that really suits his game.”

Paterson was fearful of life without rugby but, with the decision to retire now made, he is thinking about pursuing a coaching career, if not yet sure what form that may take.

“The fear of what happens next has turned to excitement,” he said. “I love challenges and want to get my teeth into new things and that will come either at the end of this season or next but everything moves on, and it’s still important to challenge yourself.

“My focus at the moment is entirely with Edinburgh,” he said, “but I would love to be involved in rugby, especially Scottish rugby, and helping some younger players with some of the experience I’ve picked up. Whether that’s a phone call to someone playing in the Six Nations, a text message or whatever, I’ll offer any support I can.

“I’d like to coach and pass on the experience I have after 12 years in international rugby, and through the whole transition from amateur to professional. I feel coaching and teaching is quite natural.

“But, having never coached, you don’t know so, like everything else, you need to pick up new skills and learn. Hopefully there will be opportunities to do that.

“The more things I try and look into, the clearer those decisions will be, but that’s for the future. I’m focused on playing with Edinburgh until the end of the season at least, building on the European run and we’ve got a couple of big games in the 1872 Cup coming up.”