Former Rugby League star to bolster Townsend's Scotland coaching team

NEWS: Lee Radford has been named as the new Scotland defence coach and will begin his role ahead of the Nations Series matches in November.

Radford currently works for Northampton Saints where he has been their defence coach for two years, winning the PREM in 2024 and reaching the Final of the Champions Cup this year. He will continue to work with Saints this season, combining his role with Scottish Rugby, before going full-time with the national team.

He has been contracted until the end of the 2027/28 season.

Previously, Radford has coached Castleford Tigers, Samoa and Hull FC in Rugby League. In 2022, he was the defence coach for Samoa as they reached the final of the Rugby League World Cup, losing out to Australia.

Radford had a star-studded Rugby League career, playing for Hull FC and Bradford Bulls, winning the Super League on three occasions.

The 46-year-old Englishman replaces Steve Tandy who took over as Wales head coach following the Tour of Fiji and New Zealand.

Radford joins Gregor Townsend’s national team coaching group alongside forwards coach, John Dalziel, skills & contact coach Pete Horne and scrum coach Pieter De Villiers.

Scotland defence coach Lee Radford said: “I’ve always aspired to coach on the international stage within rugby union and to get that opportunity with a nation like Scotland is an incredibly proud moment.

“I’ve visited the Scotland camp a couple of times in the last few years and have come away with a great feeling about the place. The management are well connected and it’s a tight playing group. There’s a brilliant chemistry and that’s so important.

“Scotland have been very sound defensively over the last few years and there are similarities to how they defend compared to Northampton. My job will be to continue that cohesion as well as adding some of my own touches.

“If you look at the age profile of the Scotland squad, it is all starting to come together nicely and I have been really impressed with how the team have developed recently. Having so many players away with the Lions in the summer is testament to the work that has been done and I can’t wait until the end of October when I meet everyone for the first time ahead of four exciting matches in the autumn.”

Townsend added: “We placed huge importance on bringing in a high-quality replacement for Steve Tandy as our defence coach and Lee fits the bill perfectly.

“Lee brings a wealth of experience from rugby league and union on the defensive area of the game and will be able to build on the good work that has been done in that area over the last few years.

“He will fit into our environment really well and I believe our players will respond positively to Lee’s beliefs and ideas around the defensive side of the game, and the mindset required to win at the highest level. We are looking forward to working with him as a coaching group and learning from his substantial knowledge and experiences.”