Gregor Townsend declined to answer questions about whether he’d want to be part of Andy Farrell’s British and Irish Lions staff next summer.  

Townsend, who toured with the victorious 1997 Lions in South Africa, was an assistant coach to Warren Gatland for the 2021 tour.  

Ireland head coach Farrell will lead the trip to Australia next summer, but Townsend refused to answer questions about whether he’d be interested in a role on the tour.  

He said: "It's not a question I want to answer. It's all hypothetical." 

The Scotland head coach highlighted the prospect of the Lions tour next year as one reason he has rested some of his front-line players from this summer’s tour of the Americas.  

Blair Kinghorn, Finn Russell, Ben White and Zander Fagerson are among those who sit the tour out that will be in contention for spots in Farrell’s squad next summer.  

Zander Fagerson was one of eight Scots on the 2021 Lions tour to South AfricaZander Fagerson was one of eight Scots on the 2021 Lions tour to South Africa (Image: SNS)

Townsend explained: “When you’ve got the World Cup that happened 12 months ago, and a Lions tour next year, that is a really challenging period for a player.  

“We've got to make sure the demands on our players mean they still get to play at the highest level and achieve the things they want to in their careers, but that they are able to be physically and mentally at the best level when it counts."