Gregor Townsend Optimistic About George Turner’s Future with Scotland Rugby
Published by BBC Rugby Union, this article explores Gregor Townsend’s perspective on hooker George Turner’s decision to join the Kobe Steelers in Japan’s Rugby League One and the impact it may have on his international career with Scotland.
Townsend, the head coach of the Scottish national team, acknowledges that it will be “challenging” for Turner to continue representing Scotland while playing his club rugby in Japan, as the league’s season runs concurrently with the Six Nations tournament. However, the coach maintains that the door is not closed on the 31-year-old’s international future.
“We think highly of him, the fact he’s started so many games for us shows what an important player he’s been,” said Townsend.
The coach also expressed his understanding of Turner’s decision, noting that it was a “tough decision” for the experienced hooker to leave Glasgow Warriors and potentially impact his international career.
While Turner has been left out of the 37-man squad for the upcoming summer tour of the Americas, Townsend remains optimistic about the player’s prospects, stating that “we’ll see what happens” and that the door remains “absolutely” open for him to return to the national team in the future.
The coach also highlighted the opportunity for new players to emerge, with the exclusion of Turner and other experienced players like Finn Russell and Darcy Graham allowing Townsend to “grow depth” in key positions, such as hooker, where he is eager to see players like Robbie Smith, Dylan Richardson, and Paddy Harrison “go out and grab their opportunity.”
Overall, the article conveys Townsend’s balanced approach, acknowledging the challenges posed by Turner’s move to Japan while maintaining a positive outlook on the hooker’s potential future with the Scotland national team.
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