Townsend can be big in Japan

HE may not officially be Scotland head coach until next June, but Gregor Townsend (pictured) is already involved in planning for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

The Glasgow Warriors boss was involved in the decision to pick Nagasaki as the venue for a ten-day holding camp for the tournament in Japan.

Being based there will allow the Scotland squad to acclimatise to the weather and time differences. They will also have close access to state-of-the-art pitches, swimming pool and gymnasium.

A delegation from Nagasaki attended a signing ceremony at Murrayfield to seal the agreement.

Townsend’s team will stay in the city before heading on to the location of their first World Cup group match which will be announced in March.