Scotland’s Townsend calls Newcastle links ‘disruptive’ before Six Nations

Gregor Townsend, the head coach of the Scotland national rugby team, has dismissed reports linking him to a potential role with Newcastle after the 2027 Rugby World Cup as "disruptive" ahead of the Six Nations tournament. Townsend stated that he has not signed any contract with Newcastle, implying that the reports are premature and may be an attempt to unsettle the Scottish team's preparations for the upcoming international competition. The 52-year-old coach, who has been in charge of Scotland since 2017, also revealed that he has taken on a consultancy role with Red Bull, the company that owns the Newcastle club. However, he insisted that his focus remains on his current position with the Scottish national team. The article suggests that the reported link between Townsend and Newcastle could be seen as a distraction for the Scotland team as they prepare for the Six Nations, and Townsend has sought to address the issue directly by denying the existence of any contract with the English club.