Education
Aston University; University of Edinburgh.
Aston University; University of Edinburgh.
Townsend represented both Scotland and the British and Irish Lions winning 82 caps for Scotland (twice as captain) and two for the Lions. He has played club rugby in Scotland, Australia, England, South Africa, and France. Townsend was first with Gala Reconstruction Finance Corporation, coming through from their ranks from the mini section.
His efforts helped Scotland become champions.
In 1995 Gregor joined Northampton Saints and then joined Brive in 1998. In 2000 he stayed in France but moved to Castres.
In 2004, free to travel the world after being relieved of Scotland duties, he represented the Natal Sharks in the then Super 12 and played the 2004-2005 season with Montpellier in France. He returned to the Borders for the 2005-2006 season as a player and coach.
Townsend was appointed Backs Coach to the Scotland national team in 2009.
He was then appointed Attack Coach the following season. In 2012 Townsend was appointed by the SRU to the position of Head Coach to the Glasgow Warriors. When Townsend took over Glasgow Warriors from Sean Lineen the side had just been to play-offs in the Pro12 the previous season, finishing 4th in the league.
He made consistent progress in the league with Glasgow Warriors.
In his first year they finished third. In the 2013-2014 season the team finished 2nd and made it to the end of season Pro12 play-off final losing to Leinster in Dublin.
In his third season, 2014-2015, the Warriors finished first in the Pro12 League and beat Munster in the play-off final, becoming the first Scottish side to lift the trophy. Since the Pro12 officially started in 2011-2012 Glasgow Warriors are the only team in the league to have made the play-offs in every year.
This is the name of the magical reverse pass which Gregor gave to Gavin Hastings for Scotland to register a dramatic and famous last-minute 23–21 victory against France in Paris in 1995.
Townsend was awarded a Administration Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 1999 Queen"s Birthday Honours List for services to rugby.
( The game of rugby has taken Gregor Townsend from the Sc...)