View source for Gregor Townsend

{{short description|British Lions & Scotland international rugby union player}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
|           name = Gregor Townsend
|          image =
|     image_size =
|        caption =
|       fullname = Gregor Peter John Townsend
|     birth_date = {{birth date and age|1973|04|26|df=y}}
|    birth_place = [[Galashiels]], Scotland
|         height = {{convert|1.83|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}
|         school = [[Galashiels Academy]]
|     university = [[University of Edinburgh]]<br />[[Aston University]]
|      relatives =
|       position = [[Fly-half (rugby union)|Fly-half]], [[Centre (rugby union)|Centre]], [[Fullback (rugby union)|Fullback]]
|    currentclub = [[Scotland national rugby union team|Scotland]] (head coach)
|         years1 = 1990–1995
|         clubs1 = [[Gala RFC|Gala]]
|          apps1 =
|        points1 =
|         years2 = 1993–1995
|         clubs2 = [[Warringah Rugby Club|Warringah]]
|          apps2 =
|        points2 =
|         years3 = 1995–1998
|         clubs3 = [[Northampton Saints]]
|          apps3 = 64
|        points3 =
|         years4 = 1998–2000
|         clubs4 = [[CA Brive|Brive]]
|          apps4 = 48
|        points4 =
|         years5 = 2000–2002
|         clubs5 = [[Castres Olympique|Castres]]
|          apps5 = 51
|        points5 =
|         years6 = 2002–2004
|         clubs6 = [[Border Reivers (rugby union)|Border Reivers]]
|          apps6 = 19
|        points6 =
|         years7 = 2004
|         clubs7 = [[Sharks (Super Rugby)|Sharks]]
|          apps7 = 9
|        points7 =
|         years8 = 2004–2005
|         clubs8 = [[Montpellier Hérault Rugby|Montpellier]]
|          apps8 = 30
|        points8 =
|         years9 = 2005–2007
|         clubs9 = [[Border Reivers (rugby union)|Border Reivers]]
|          apps9 = 37
|        points9 =
|        years10 =
|        clubs10 = <!--- [[South of Scotland District (rugby union)|South of Scotland]] --->
|         apps10 =
|       points10 =
|      repyears1 = 1991–1992
|       repteam1 = [[Scotland B national rugby union team|Scotland 'B']]
|       repcaps1 = 2
|     reppoints1 =
|      repyears2 = 1992–1996
|       repteam2 = [[Scotland A national rugby union team|Scotland 'A']]
|       repcaps2 = 5
|     reppoints2 =
|      repyears3 = 1993–2003
|       repteam3 = [[Scotland national rugby union team|Scotland]]
|       repcaps3 = 82
|     reppoints3 = 164
|      repyears4 = 1997
|       repteam4 = [[British & Irish Lions]]
|       repcaps4 = 2
|     reppoints4 = 0
|     clubupdate = 15 May 2023
|      repupdate = 15 May 2023
|    coachyears1 = 2005–2007
|    coachteams1 = [[Border Reivers (rugby union)|Border Reivers]]
|    coachyears2 = 2008–2009
|    coachteams2 = [[Scotland A national rugby union team|Scotland A]] (assistant)
|    coachyears3 = 2009–2012
|    coachteams3 = [[Scotland national rugby union team|Scotland]] (assistant)
|    coachyears4 = 2012–2017
|    coachteams4 = [[Glasgow Warriors]]
|    coachyears5 = 2017–
|    coachteams5 = [[Scotland national rugby union team|Scotland]]
|    coachyears6 = 2021
|    coachteams6 = [[British & Irish Lions]] (assistant)
| ru_coachupdate = 15 May 2023
}}

'''Gregor Peter John Townsend''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|MBE}} (born 26 April 1973) is a Scottish professional [[rugby union]] coach and former player who has been coaching the [[Scotland national rugby union team|Scotland national team]] since 2017.

Townsend was previously the assistant coach from 2009 to 2012. As a player, he won 82 [[Cap (sport)|caps]] for Scotland and two for the [[British and Irish Lions]]. He is a former coach of [[Glasgow Warriors]] and was a player-coach for [[Border Reivers (rugby union)|Border Reivers]]. As well as in Scotland, he played club rugby in Australia, England, France and South Africa. As coach of Scotland, his team won at Twickenham for the first time in 38 years in 2021. Townsend was selected as attack coach for the [[2021 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa]].

Townsend was awarded an [[Order of the British Empire|MBE]] in [[1999 Birthday Honours|1999]] for services to rugby.<ref name="Independent 12June1999">{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/queens-birthday-honours-the-full-list-1099582.html |title=Queen's Birthday Honours: The Full List |work= [[The Independent]] |date=12 June 1999 |access-date=12 June 2015}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Townsend was born in April 1973 in [[Galashiels]] and went to school at [[Galashiels Academy]]. He graduated in 1995 from the [[University of Edinburgh]] with an MA degree in History and Politics.<ref>Talk of the Toony: The Autobiography of Gregor Townsend, by Gregor Townsend (Author), 2015</ref><ref name="ed.ac.uk">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ed.ac.uk/sport-exercise/performance/hall-of-fame/hall-of-fame-inductees-2009/gregor-townsend|title=Gregor Townsend MBE}}</ref>

==Playing career==
===Club===
Townsend started playing for his local club [[Gala RFC]], where his father had played,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/how-gregor-became-a-singlehanded-hero-gregor-townsend-1574899.html|title = How Gregor became a single-handed hero : Gregor Townsend| website=[[Independent.co.uk]] |date = 22 October 2011}}</ref> and came through from the mini section to senior side.<ref name="Scotsman 6May2007">{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/sport/rugby/borders-legend-toony-looks-back-on-a-career-far-less-ordinary-1-1418970 |title=Borders legend Toony looks back on a career far less ordinary |first=Iain |last=Morrison |work=[[The Scotsman]] |date=6 May 2007 |access-date=12 June 2015}}</ref>

In 1993, Townsend spent a season in Australia, playing for [[Warringah Rugby Club|Warringah]] in the [[Shute Shield]]. He was part of the team that came runners-up to [[Gordon RFC|Gordon]], losing 23–19. He returned to the club in 1995 after leaving his local side Gala.

In 1995, Townsend joined English side [[Northampton Saints]] for the [[1995–96 Courage League National Division Two]], where he helped the side to promotion to the top English division for 1996. He remained with the club for a further two seasons in the top English division before moving to France to play for [[CA Brive|Brive]] in the [[French Rugby Union Championship]].<ref name="France">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/35775497|title=Scotland v France: Gregor Townsend recalls French sojourn|date=10 March 2016|publisher=BBC|work=BBC Sport}}</ref> Across the two seasons he played for the club, Brive did not make much success which saw Townsend move to play for [[Castres Olympique]] in 2000.<ref name="France"/> In Townsend's first season with Castres, the side topped Pool 1 which saw them advance through to the quarter-finals where they defeated [[US Colomiers|Colomiers]] 37–26. However, Castres failed to make the final after losing to [[Stade Toulousain|Toulouse]] 32–21 in the semi-final. Following a disappointing [[2001–02 Top 16 season]], Townsend returned to Scotland to play for [[Border Reivers (rugby union)|Border Reivers]].

After retiring from international rugby in 2003, in December of that year Townsend signed with [[Super 12]] South African side the [[Sharks (rugby union)|Sharks]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/story/_/id/15371733/townsend-signs-sharks|title=Townsend signs for Sharks|date=29 December 2003|website=ESPN.com}}</ref> He played a single season for the Sharks outfit before he returned to France to play for [[Montpellier Hérault Rugby|Montpellier]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/story/54288.html|title=Townsend moves to Montpellier|website=ESPN scrum}}</ref>

In 2005, Townsend returned home to Scotland for a second time and was a player/coach for the Border Reivers until they were disbanded at the end of the 2006–07 season.

===Provincial===

He played for [[South of Scotland District (rugby union)|South of Scotland District]] in the [[Scottish Inter-District Championship]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000578/19921207/382/0017 |title= |newspaper= |location= |page= |issue= |date= |url-access=subscription |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]]}}</ref>

===International===

He was capped by [[Scotland B national rugby union team|Scotland 'B']] to play Ireland 'B' on 28 December 1991 and played in the Scotland 'B' side against France 'B' in the spring of 1992.

He played for [[Scotland A national rugby union team|Scotland 'A']] in the 'A' side's first match, against Spain. He received 5 'A' caps in total.

Townsend made his international debut at the age of 19, coming off the bench against [[England national rugby union team|England]] on 6 March 1993 during the [[1993 Five Nations Championship]]. It wasn't until a year later that Townsend gained his second cap, which was a starting position against [[Wales national rugby union team|Wales]] during the [[1994 Five Nations Championship]]. He then started the next 35 tests for Scotland before he was next played off the bench.

In December 1996 he represented the [[Barbarian Football Club|Barbarians]], playing against [[Australia national rugby union team|Australia]] at [[Twickenham Stadium|Twickenham]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Archive - Barbarian FC|url=http://www.barbarianfc.co.uk/archive/profile/3867/g-p-j-townsend/|access-date=2021-11-04|website=www.barbarianfc.co.uk}}</ref> In 1997, he was selected for the [[1997 British Lions tour to South Africa|British Lions tour to South Africa]] by [[Ian McGeechan]]. He played in six games, including starting against [[South Africa national rugby union team|South Africa]] in the first and second tests.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lionsrugby.com/player-archive/|title=Player Archive|website=British & Irish Lions}}</ref>

During the [[1999 Five Nations Championship]], Townsend scored a try against every other country, becoming the first Scotsman since 1925 to achieve this feat.<ref name="Scotsman 2May2002">{{cite news |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/gregor-townsend-2467364 |title=Gregor Townsend |work= The Scotsman |date=2 May 2002 |access-date=9 January 2022}}</ref> His efforts across all four games helped Scotland to claim the Championship for the first time since [[1990 Five Nations Championship|1990]]. Later that year, he was selected for his first ever [[Rugby World Cup]], where he played in every Scotland game. However, Scotland failed to progress past the quarter-finals after losing to [[New Zealand national rugby union team|New Zealand]] 30–18. In April 2002 he became Scotland's most capped player when he overtook the 65 full international appearances achieved by [[Scott Hastings (rugby union)|Scott Hastings]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/international/1910712.stm |title=Townsend the flawed genius |first=Alasdair |last=Lamont |work=BBC Sport |date=4 April 2002 |access-date=26 December 2022}}</ref> He was again selected for Scotland's World Cup squad in [[2003 Rugby World Cup|2003]], and again played in every game. However, Scotland again did not progress past the quarter-finals, as they lost to hosts Australia 33–16. This was his last match playing for Scotland.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/international/3320277.stm|title=Townsend quits Test rugby|date=15 December 2003|work=BBC News}}</ref>

Townsend made one appearance, playing for the [[Barbarian Rugby Club|French Barbarians]] during his stint with Montpellier, against Australia in November 2004.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/story/55605.html|title=Australians get morale booster against French Barbarians|website=ESPN scrum}}</ref>

====Toonie flip====
This is the nickname given to the reverse pass which Townsend gave to [[Gavin Hastings]] for Scotland to register a dramatic and famous last-minute 23–21 victory against France in Paris in 1995.

===Playing honours===
{{col-float}}
'''[[Scotland national rugby union team|Scotland]]'''
*'''[[Five Nations Championship|Five / Six Nations Championship]]'''
**Winners: [[1999 Five Nations Championship|1999]]
**Runners-up: [[1993 Five Nations Championship|1993]], [[1995 Five Nations Championship|1995]], [[1996 Five Nations Championship|1996]]
**Third: [[2001 Six Nations Championship|2001]]
*'''[[Calcutta Cup]]'''
**Winners: 2000
*'''[[Centenary Quaich]]'''
**Winners: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001
'''[[British and Irish Lions]]'''
*'''South African test series'''
**Winners: [[1997 British Lions tour to South Africa|1997]]
{{col-float-break}}
'''[[Warringah Rugby Club|Warringah]]'''
*'''[[Shute Shield]]'''
**Runners-up: 1993
'''[[Northampton Saints]]'''
*'''[[RFU Championship|National Division Two]]'''
**Winners: 1996
'''[[CA Brive]]'''
*'''[[European Rugby Champions Cup|Heineken Cup]]'''
**Runners-up: [[1998 Heineken Cup Final|1998]]
*'''Coupe de France'''
**Runners-up: 2000
{{col-float-end}}

==Coaching career==

===Border Reivers===

On Townsend's return to Scotland, in 2005 he took up a player/coach role with Border Reivers which was where he started his coaching career. After the club disbanded in 2007, he started a Scotland mentoring program in which a number of former internationals gave specialized coaching to rising Scottish players. This included working with the top Scottish clubs, [[Edinburgh Rugby|Edinburgh]] and [[Glasgow Warriors]], and the age-grade national sides, while he also worked with the amateur/semi-pro clubs.

===Scotland===

In October 2008, Townsend was appointed as assistant coach for the [[Scotland A national rugby union team|Scotland A national side]] ahead of their matches in later that year.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/scottish/7697952.stm|title=New Scotland A role for Townsend|date=29 October 2008|work=BBC News}}</ref> In January 2009, he was appointed backs coach for the [[Scotland national rugby union team|national side]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/scotland/4209413/Gregor-Townsend-appointed-Scotlands-backs-coach-for-RBS-Six-Nations.html|title=Gregor Townsend appointed Scotland's backs coach for RBS Six Nations|first=Alasdair|last=Reid|date=9 January 2009|via=www.telegraph.co.uk}}</ref> before becoming the national attack coach the following season.

During Townsend's tenure, he helped Scotland to their first win over Australia since 1982 and their first win over South Africa since 2002. He was their attack coach during the [[2011 Rugby World Cup]] where Scotland failed to advance past the pool stage.

===Glasgow Warriors===

In March 2012, Townsend stood down from his role with the national team and replaced [[Sean Lineen]] at Glasgow Warriors as their head coach.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/scotland/9137307/Gregor-Townsend-set-to-become-Glasgow-head-coach-as-Sean-Lineen-takes-Scotland-role.html|title=Gregor Townsend set to become Glasgow head coach as Sean Lineen takes Scotland role|first=Alasdair|last=Reid|date=11 March 2012|via=www.telegraph.co.uk}}</ref>

In Townsend's first season in charge, he maintained Glasgow's positioning in the play-offs of the [[Pro14|Pro12]], but as in the previous season under Lineen, Glasgow were knocked out by [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]] in the semi-finals. As Glasgow continued to build under Townsend, they made their first final appearance after beating [[Munster Rugby|Munster]] in the semi-finals 16–15. They faced Leinster in the final, only to lose 34–12. In Europe, they continued to struggle, finishing bottom of their pool for the second consecutive season.

The [[2014–15 Glasgow Warriors season|2014–15 season]] not only saw Glasgow narrowly miss out on the knock-out stage of the [[2014–15 European Rugby Champions Cup|European Rugby Champions Cup]], with a loss to [[Bath Rugby|Bath]] in their final pool game, but they also made their second consecutive final in the [[2014–15 Pro12|Pro12]]. In that final, they defeated Munster 31–13 to claim their first ever Pro 12 title.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/33104709 |title=Glasgow Warriors: Finn Russell eyes longer stay |work=[[BBC News]] |date=11 June 2015}}</ref> During that season, Glasgow won all of their home games in the Pro 12, extending their unbeaten run at [[Scotstoun Stadium|Scotstoun]] to 21 games. This unbeaten run came to an end when they were beaten by the [[Scarlets]] in the opening round of the [[2015–16 Pro12]] season. During the 2015–16, Glasgow failed to retain their title after they were knocked out by [[Connacht Rugby|Connacht]], who were later crowned champions, in the semi-finals.

The [[2016–17 Glasgow Warriors season|2016–17 season]] would be Townsend's last at Glasgow, with the announcement of him taking charge of the Scottish national side in June 2017, replacing [[Vern Cotter]] when his contract expired.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.scottishrugby.org/news/16/08/17/gregor-townsend-become-scotland-head-coach-june-2017#overlay-context=news |title= Gregor Townsend to become Scotland Head Coach in June 2017 |work= [[Scottish Rugby Union|SRU]] |date= 17 August 2016 |access-date= 17 August 2016 |archive-date= 25 October 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161025111729/http://www.scottishrugby.org/news/16/08/17/gregor-townsend-become-scotland-head-coach-june-2017#overlay-context=news |url-status= dead }}</ref> In that season, Glasgow failed to make the Pro 12 play-off's for the first time since the [[2010–11 Celtic League]] season. Up until that point, they were the only club to have made all the play-offs under the current Pro 12 format. However, Glasgow did make the knockout stage of the [[2016–17 European Rugby Champions Cup]], only to fall against [[Saracens F.C.|Saracens]] in the quarter-finals 38–13. This was the first Glasgow side to make the top-tier competition play-off in Europe, since the [[1997–98 Heineken Cup]], though Glasgow did make the second-tier competition knockout stage during the [[2006–07 European Challenge Cup]].

Townsend left the club with a 62% win rate across all competitions, winning 91 games from the 147 games coached.

===Scotland===
Townsend took over the head coach role for the Scotland national rugby team when the Warriors season finished in May 2017. On 8 May, Townsend named his first squad for Scotland's [[2017 mid-year rugby union internationals|2017 June tests]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://thescotlandteam.com/2017/05/08/three-uncapped-players-named-in-scotland-summer-tour-squad/|title=THREE UNCAPPED PLAYERS NAMED IN SCOTLAND SUMMER TOUR SQUAD|access-date=12 May 2017|archive-date=12 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170512012536/http://thescotlandteam.com/2017/05/08/three-uncapped-players-named-in-scotland-summer-tour-squad/|url-status=dead}}</ref> His first game in charge of Scotland was a 34–13 victory against [[Italy national rugby union team|Italy]] in [[Singapore]], which was backed up by a first ever win in [[Sydney]] against [[Australia national rugby union team|Australia]] 24–19. However, their final test on tour, an away game to [[Fiji national rugby union team|Fiji]], saw Scotland narrowly lose to the Flying Fijians 27–22, to see Scotland lose to the Pacific nation for the first time since 1998, the last time they played in [[Suva]]. Townsend led Scotland to a successful [[2017 end-of-year rugby union internationals|Autumn Internationals]] campaign, defeating [[Samoa national rugby union team|Samoa]] 44–38 and Australia 53–24, which was a record winning margin for Scotland over Australia. Scotland also came within moments of defeating [[New Zealand national rugby union team|New Zealand]], losing 17–22. Had it not been for a try saving tackle in the dying seconds of the game from [[Beauden Barrett]], the score could have been equalized ahead of a potential match winning conversion.

Despite much promise in their Autumn campaign, Scotland started Townsend's first [[2018 Six Nations Championship|Six Nations Championship]] with a 34–7 defeat to [[Wales national rugby union team|Wales]]. Scotland returned to winning ways in round 2, defeating [[France national rugby union team|France]] 32–26. In round 3, Townsend led Scotland to their first victory over [[England national rugby union team|England]] since 2010, winning 25–13, their largest winning victory over England in a Six Nations game. That victory meant they extended their home victories in the Championship out to 6, something they hadn't achieved since their home wins between the [[1989 Five Nations Championship|1989]] and [[1991 Five Nations Championship]]s. Despite creating chances against [[Ireland national rugby union team|Ireland]], Scotland were unable to come away with the victory, losing 28–8. In the final round, it came down to a last minute penalty from [[Greig Laidlaw]] to secure a 29–27 win over [[Italy national rugby union team|Italy]], to finish third on the table, their highest positioning since [[2013 Six Nations Championship|2013]]. The [[2018 June rugby union tests|2018 June tests]] saw a young and inexperienced side travel to the Americas. The first game ended in a 48–10 victory over [[Canada national rugby union team|Canada]], however the second test saw the [[United States national rugby union team|United States]] claim a 30–29 win to see them earn their first victory over Scotland and a Tier 1 nation in the professional era. Despite this, Scotland went on to claim a record victory over [[Argentina national rugby union team|Argentina]], winning 44–15.

Townsend's second Six Nations campaign started well with a convincing win over Italy by 33–20, with a hat-trick from [[Blair Kinghorn]] alongside tries to Stuart Hogg and Chris Harris. Scotland dominated the game until a surprising fight-back by Italy in the last 10 minutes<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2019/02/02/scotland-vs-italy-six-nations-2019-live-score-latest-updates/ |title = Blair Kinghorn scores a hat-trick of tries as Scotland make winning start to Six Nations campaign against Italy|newspaper = The Telegraph|date = 2 February 2019|last1 = Mole|first1 = Giles}}</ref> saw the [[Italy national rugby union team|Azzurri]] score three times to set up a tense finish. A close-fought but chaotic loss to Ireland by 13-22 came the following week, with further losses to France (10-27) and eventual Grand Slam winners Wales (11-18) in the ensuing rounds. In the last game of the competition, Scotland faced England at home in Twickenham. The first half was almost entirely one-sided, with England racing out to a 31–0 lead in the first 30 minutes, until [[Stuart McInally]] scored a breakaway try off a charge-down from English captain [[Owen Farrell]]. The second half witnessed a stunning comeback by the Scots, with a flurry of tries to [[Darcy Graham]], [[Magnus Bradbury]], [[Finn Russell]] and Sam Johnson putting Scotland into the lead by 38–31 with 4 minutes to go before a last-gasp try to replacement English fly-half [[George Ford (rugby union)|George Ford]], who then converted to level the final score at 38-38.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/mar/16/england-scotland-six-nations-match-report|title=England salvage Six Nations draw after Scotland's spectacular comeback|first=Michael Aylwin at|last=Twickenham|date=16 March 2019|via=www.theguardian.com|newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref> The drawn result allowed Scotland to retain the Calcutta Cup, and was both the highest-scoring draw and the highest-scoring comeback of any rugby match on record.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2019/03/17/scotland-riddled-regret-despite-historic-six-try-comeback/ |title = Scotland riddled with regret despite historic six-try comeback|newspaper = The Telegraph|date = 17 March 2019|last1 = Bath|first1 = Richard}}</ref>

====Record by opponent====
{| class="sortable wikitable"
|-
! Opponent
! Played
! Won
! Drew
! Lost
! Win ratio (%)
! Points for
! Points against
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|Argentina}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|6|4|0|2}}
| 188
| 119
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|Australia}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|6|4|0|2}}
| 134
| 85
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|Canada}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|2|2|0|0}}
| 121
| 22
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|Chile}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|1|1|0|0}}
| 52
| 11
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|England}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|7|5|1|1}}
| 159
| 131
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|Fiji}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|5|4|0|1}}
| 161
| 73
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|France}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|12|5|0|7}}
| 238
| 300
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|Georgia}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|4|4|0|0}}
| 161
| 32
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|Ireland}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|10|0|0|10}}
| 122
| 248
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|Italy}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|9|8|0|1}}
| 306
| 167
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|Japan}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|2|1|0|1}}
| 50
| 48
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|Portugal}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|1|1|0|0}}
| 59
| 21
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|New Zealand}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|2|0|0|2}}
| 40
| 53
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|Romania}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|1|1|0|0}}
| 84
| 0
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|Russia}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|1|1|0|0}}
| 61
| 0
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|Samoa}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|2|2|0|0}}
| 78
| 38
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|South Africa}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|4|0|0|4}}
| 52
| 106
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|Tonga}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|2|2|0|0}}
| 105
| 31
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|United States}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|2|1|0|1}}
| 71
| 37
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|Uruguay}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|1|1|0|0}}
| 31
| 19
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|Wales}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|8|3|0|5}}
| 145
| 161
|- align=center
! TOTAL
{{WDLtot|decimals=0|71|39|1|31}}
! 2418
! 1702
|-
| colspan="8" style="text-align:right; background: white" | <small>*Correct as of November 24, 2024</small>
|}

===British & Irish Lions===
Having turned down the opportunity to join [[Warren Gatland|Warren Gatland's]] the coaching staff for the [[2017 British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand]] due to having only just taken over the Head Coach role with [[Scotland national rugby union team|Scotland]], Townsend was named as attack coach for the [[2021 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa|2021 tour to South Africa]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12321/12274093/warren-gatland-reveals-british-irish-lions-coaching-team-for-2021-tour-to-south-africa|title = Warren Gatland reveals British & Irish Lions coaching team for 2021 tour to South Africa}}</ref>

====Honours====
*'''[[Calcutta Cup]]'''
**Winners: 2018, 2019*, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 (*retained through a draw)
*'''[[Auld Alliance Trophy]]'''
**Winners: 2018, 2020, 2021
*'''[[Hopetoun Cup]]'''
**Winners: June 2017, November 2017, 2021, 2024
*'''[[Douglas Horn Trophy]]'''
**Winners: 2018, 2024
*'''[[Doddie Weir Cup]]'''
**Winners: 2020, 2023, 2024, 2025
*'''[[Cuttitta Cup]]'''
**Winners: 2022, 2023, 2025

===Other honours===
{{col-float}}
'''[[Scotland national rugby union team|Scotland]] ''(as assistant coach)'''''
*'''[[Centenary Quaich]]'''
**Winners: 2010
*'''[[Hopetoun Cup]]'''
**Winners: 2009
{{col-float-break}}
'''[[Glasgow Warriors]]'''
*'''[[Pro12]]'''
**Winners: [[2015 Pro12 Grand Final|2015]]
**Runners-up: [[2014 Pro12 Grand Final|2014]]
*'''[[1872 Cup]]'''
**Winners: 2013, 2014, 2017
{{col-float-end}}

==Recognition==
Townsend received an MBE in 1999 for his services to rugby.<ref name="ed.ac.uk"/>

==Personal life==
Townsend is married.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/17838724.scotland-head-coach-gregor-townsend-keeping-options-open/|title = Townsend keeping his options open ahead of Rugby World Cup|first=Stewart |last=Fisher |work=The Herald |access-date=9 January 2022}}</ref><ref name="The Times">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-union/article/scotland-head-coach-gregor-townsend-opens-up-about-mental-health-issues-8qmzmj6nc|title=Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend opens up about mental health issues}}</ref>

Townsend is an advocate for mental health, and has discussed times when he felt pressure and discomfort in his career.<ref name="The Times"/>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==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 ==
*[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/scottish/5136936.stm Townsend sets date for retirement], BBC, 2 June 2006
*[http://www.scotsman.com/sport/rugby/townsend-launches-kids-summer-camps-1-1123736 Townsend launches kids' summer camps], The Scotsman, 28 June 2006
*[http://www.sporting-heroes.net/rugby/scotland/gregor-townsend-3331/scottish-international-rugby-caps_a04478/ Gregor Townsend's Sporting Heroes Profile]
*{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/sport/rugby/townsend-admits-test-career-is-over-1-1116276 |title=Townsend admits Test career is over |work=The Scotsman |date=2 May 2006}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070312112719/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fsport%2F2003%2F03%2F09%2Fsrbate09.xml Townsend part Gregor groan, part Merlin] (Telegraph, 9 March 2003)

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{{Succession box| title = [[Scottish national rugby union team#Coaches|Scottish national rugby coach]] | years = 2017–Present | before = {{Flagicon|NZL}} [[Vern Cotter]] | after = ''Incumbent''}}
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{{Glasgow Warriors head coaches|state=collapsed}}
{{Scotland Squad 2019 Rugby World Cup}}
{{Scotland 2023 Rugby World Cup squad}}

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[[Category:1973 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People educated at Galashiels Academy]]
[[Category:Alumni of Aston University]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Edinburgh]]
[[Category:Border Reivers players]]
[[Category:British & Irish Lions rugby union players from Scotland]]
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[[Category:Expatriate rugby union players in South Africa]]
[[Category:Gala RFC players]]
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[[Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Northampton Saints players]]
[[Category:Rugby union centres]]
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[[Category:Rugby union fullbacks]]
[[Category:Rugby union players from Galashiels]]
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[[Category:Scotland international rugby union players]]
[[Category:Scotland national rugby union team coaches]]
[[Category:Scottish expatriate sportspeople in South Africa]]
[[Category:Scottish rugby union coaches]]
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[[Category:Sharks (rugby union) players]]
[[Category:South of Scotland District (rugby union) players]]
[[Category:1999 Rugby World Cup players]]
[[Category:2003 Rugby World Cup players]]
[[Category:Warringah Rugby Club players]]
[[Category:CA Brive players]]