Scotland appoint Northampton's Lee Radford as new defence coach

Northampton’s Lee Radford has been appointed as the new defence coach for the Scotland international rugby team.

The 46-year-old will begin his role with Gregor Townsend’s men in November ahead of their Quilter Nations Series matches.

Radford has been in a similar role with Northampton Saints for the last two years, helping them win the Gallagher PREM in 2024 and reach the final of Investec 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, where he has signed a contract 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.

During his playing career, he represented Hull FC and Bradford Bulls, winning the Super League on three occasions.

He replaces Steve Tandy, who took over as Wales head coach following the Skyscanner Summer Tour of Fiji and New Zealand.

Scotland confirmed the appointment on Tuesday.

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.”

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend said: “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.”