DAVID SOLE

Mark Dodson, the SRU’S CEO, paved the way for Gregor Townsend to take up a coaching role with the British & Irish Lions touring squad to South Africa next year – should Warren Gatland want the Scot on his coaching team.

It is a big “if”, given Gatland’s view of Scottish rugby.

The New Zealander only picked two Scots on his last trip to New Zealand, and there have been very few Scots on Lions tours of late – full stop.

While some might decry this as being unfair or prejudicial against Scottish players, in reality, players have to deserve the ultimate accolade to be selected for the Lions and, regrettably, this has not been the case.

Adding Townsend to his coaching team would undoubtedly be helpful in selection for Scottish players, and there should be a number pressing to be picked come next summer.

But, of course, there is a Six Nations to come before everyone sits down to pick the squad, and results in that competition will count a long way to guarantee seats on the plane down under.

As well as his obvious talents as a coach – which are still developing – Townsend has experience of touring South Africa with the Lions as a player.

He was an integral part of the team that defeated the Springboks in 1997

‘ It would be a great learning experience for Townsend

– a team that had a number of Scots starting in the Test side, as well as the legendary pairing of Ian Mcgeechan and Jim Telfer as coaches.

Such experience is invaluable, and Gatland would do well to acknowledge that when he is pulling together his coaching team.

He wants as many people involved who have experienced winning Lions tours – not that there is a template that he can apply.

But these folk are pretty rare in Home Nations rugby.

A Test series against the reigning World Champions is not going to be easy by any stretch of the imagination.

It would be a great learning experience for Townsend, should he be invited to join Gatland’s team and he still has a lot to learn.

His management of the Finn Russell affair left a bit to be desired, so dealing with players who will be less familiar to him may prove to be a challenge.

Being the person he is, I’m sure Townsend will manage fine.

There was also news during the week that Richard Cockerill has signed an extension to his contract at Edinburgh.

With the 1872 Cup gleaming in Edinburgh’s trophy cabinet again, this is excellent news and pleasing to see, despite the SRU’S financial constraints being put on spending sprees for players.

The combative Englishman now has another two years to continue his transformation of Edinburgh.

But he’ll still have his eye on the 2020 Pro14 title in the meantime.