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gregor townsend emphasizes his controversial decision to take up a new advisory role with red Bull There will be no negative impact on their ability to continue to lead scotland,
after extending his contract With the national team in September Until the 2027 World Cup, it was revealed earlier this month that the long-serving head coach will spend 30 days a year Working on Red Bull’s global rugby strategy in a non-executive position.
Red Bull recently acquired Prem rugby team Newcastle Falcons It has now been rebranded as Newcastle Red Bulls.And will attempt to turn the club from the north-east of England around from their current position perpetually at the bottom of the top-flight table.
Townsend has been criticized in some quarters for accepting a part-time job while in charge of his country, but he is adamant there is no need for concern.
In a press conference on Tuesday, he was asked about the name of his team for the upcoming Autumn Nations Series If he understood why there was a reaction, the 52-year-old said: “Yeah, look, everyone has their own opinion. It’s something I spoke clearly about with Scottish Rugby, and the benefits we saw in this role.
“In my own time, I want to learn from other sports and other organisations. This gives me the opportunity to do that, but it’s not something I’m focusing on over the next few weeks, because that will be Scotland’s job.
“I am well aware of my role and the time that I am able to allocate, and I have to make sure that I manage it because over the next few years there will be less holidays, less time off.
“But it can also be a real positive in terms of energizing me and getting me involved on a broader level with the game and management, and that’s what I’ve felt over the last few months (since starting with Red Bull).
“Some of the experiences I’ve had have been energising, but when I’m with Scotland and fully focused even in the planning stages with Scotland, that’s my main role, and it’s a role that gives me a bigger purpose in my life and something I’m fully committed to.”
Townsend admitted that he “absolutely” has to be careful about how he manages his time moving forward.
“When you are with the national team, as a head coach, there are times when it is really intense, and you are in camps, and you are staying in hotels, but there are times throughout the year when you can choose what to do,” he said.
“Some people work in media, some people work away from rugby, and I have this opportunity to work with another sporting organization or a company that runs different sports, and I think that will be helpful for my learning.
“They clearly want what I can contribute in the way of advice. Scottish Rugby knows well what that means, and I have to be careful if there is a potential conflict. I don’t see any, but if there is, I have to flag it with my bosses.”
Townsend’s 45-man squad for next month’s tests against the United States, New Zealand, Argentina and Tonga includes senior trio Xander Fagerson, Jack Dempsey and Rory Darges, with injury limiting his involvement with Glasgow this season.
The head coach revealed that number 8 Dempsey, who has not played a competitive game since March, is now fit and ready to play, while he expects prop Fagerson and flanker Darge to be in contention for the second match against the All Blacks.
Edinburgh captain Magnus Bradbury, 30, has been recalled after winning the most recent of his 19 caps on the 2022 summer tour, while his club mates Liam McConnell and Harry Morris have been called up for the first time.
Scotland squad for the upcoming Autumn Nations series
Back: Fergus Burke (Saracens), Jamie Dobbie (Glasgow Warriors), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh), Adam Hastings (Glasgow Warriors), Rory Hutchinson (Northampton Saints), George Horn (Glasgow Warriors), Tom Jordan (Bristol Bears), Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse), Stafford McDowall (Glasgow Warriors), Kyle Rowe (Glasgow Warriors), Aaron Reid (Sale Sharks), Finn Russell (Bath), Ollie Smith (Glasgow Warriors), Kyle Steyn (Glasgow Warriors), Ross Thompson (Edinburgh), Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors), Duhan Van Der Merwe (Edinburgh), Ben White (Toulon).
Ahead: Evan Ashman (Edinburgh), Josh Bayliss (Bath), Magnus Bradbury (Edinburgh), Gregor Brown (Glasgow Warriors), Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors), Rory Darge (Glasgow Warriors), Jack Dempsey (Glasgow Warriors), Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), Xander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh), Patrick Harrison (Edinburgh), Nathan McBeth (Glasgow Warriors), Alexander Masibaka (Montpellier), Liam McConnell (Edinburgh Rugby), Elliot Miller Mills (Northampton Saints), Harry Morris (Edinburgh), Andy Onyeama-Christie (Saracens), D’Arcy Rae (Edinburgh), Dylan Richardson (Edinburgh), Jamie Ritchie (Perpignan), Alex Samuel (Glasgow Warriors), Pierre Shoman (Edinburgh Rugby), Rory Sutherland (Glasgow Warriors), Marshall Sykes (Edinburgh), George Turner (Harlequins), Murphy Walker (Glasgow Warriors), Max Williamson (Glasgow Warriors)