These are your headlines on the morning of Tuesday, October 27

These are your headlines on the morning of Tuesday, October 27

Gatland: I'd like to coach Lions again

Warren Gatland says he'd like to coach the British & Irish Lions again in future.

The New Zealander has coached the tourists three times already - in 2013, 2017 and 2021 - while he also toured South Africa in 2009 under head coach Sir Ian McGeechan.

Gatland was recently linked with the Fiji job and spoke to them about the position but decided against it because of timings.

He did say that if "something else came along and I felt it was the right thing, I would look at something".

One role he would definitely consider would be the Lions - but he added that Andy Farrell's success in Australia last time out might see him in the box seat for the job.

"If you had that opportunity, yeah, you'd like to do it but Andy Farrell has done a good job, he's won a series, so depending on how Ireland goes, you could see him doing it again," he said to Boyle Sports.

"I’d like to coach the Lions again but Andy Farrell won a series and I can see him doing it again - it's massive, yeah.

"I loved it. It is hard. I've noticed recently there's a lot of focus on the relationship with the media, and winning has become so important.

"I have this romantic view of the Lions - that it's a celebration of the game and the history. Every 12 years you go to one of these countries and play.

"We should always keep in mind how important a Lions tour is to the host country financially, and we should just celebrate the game.

"We've seen in recent tours a lot of off-field stuff and behaviour that hasn't been the best."

Bristol sign sacked Samoan

Bristol Bears have announced the signing of Totoa Auvaa, the Samoan recently sacked by PREM rivals Saracens.

Auvaa was let go by the London club a fortnight ago after a second altercation in a nightclub emerged.

He was first involved in an altercation with England cricketers Gus Atkinson and Ben Stokes in June, while another incident in St Albans proved to be the last straw.

However, Pat Lam has offered the youngster a route back.

Lam said: “Totoa is a big, physical young man with enormous potential, who unfortunately has made some mistakes since arriving from a small village in Samoa to the massive city of London.

“His agent reached out to me, to see if I would be willing to help him and give him a second chance. I’ve always believed that young people deserve the opportunity to learn from those experiences, grow and become better people.

“Having spent time with Totoa, I feel confident that we can provide him with the mentorship, guidance, support and structure to give him the best possible opportunity to succeed, not just as a rugby player, but as a person. Someone his parents and family all the way back in Samoa will be proud of.

“He has a huge amount of ability, and we’re looking forward to helping him develop, make the most of this opportunity and become a valued member of the Bears family.”

Townsend challenges Scottish players

By Anthony Brown, Press Association

Gregor Townsend has challenged Scotland to step up their preparations for next year’s World Cup by finishing the maiden Nations Championship with a flourish.

The Scots have enjoyed an encouraging 2026 so far, and – less than a year before the start of the global showpiece in Australia – the head coach is eager for them to build further momentum.

Townsend’s side are currently second in the northern hemisphere table as they prepare to host New Zealand, Australia and Japan next month.

“I think there’s momentum from last season, which we normally wouldn’t get, because it normally would have been a November Test series and we start again,” said Townsend, reflecting on the dynamic shift of playing Nations Championship matches in the autumn.

“We’re in a competition where we’re in a decent place right now, so we’ve got that motivation of not just taking the game in isolation, but where we can finish up as high as possible and be involved against a leading side in that final weekend.

“And then 12 months from now, the (RWC) pool stages will be finished. I think the last 16 is getting played right now (in 2027), so that’s our goal, to be playing knockout rugby in 12 months’ time, and between now and then, play our best rugby.

“That will put us in a really good position to have a good World Cup, but also put us in a position to do something special before then.”

Townsend has selected a largely familiar 37-man squad, with Newcastle back-rower Ollie Leatherbarrow the only new face, as the head coach aims to maintain continuity leading into the World Cup.

“We want to finish as high up as possible and win the northern hemisphere table, or at least finish top two, top three, so we’re going to play a real big gun from the southern hemisphere (in the final weekend),” said Townsend.

“We got huge learning from that game out in South Africa (a 42-28 defeat in July). We’re going to get huge learning playing New Zealand in a couple of weeks’ time, so we want to be playing those teams more regularly. That’s a motivation.”

Macclesfield-born Leatherbarrow, who qualifies through his grandmother from Perth, has been selected ahead of Edinburgh back-rower Magnus Bradbury.

Townsend explained he is eager to look at the Newcastle forward as he looks to bolster his options ahead of the Six Nations, when Jack Dempsey, who recently moved to Japan, will not be available.

“Hopefully Ollie will get opportunities in the next few weeks, because he’s playing really well,” said Townsend, who also revealed that New Zealand-born Glasgow full-back Josh McKay could be called up when he becomes eligible midway through the November camp.

“Ollie can cover all three positions in the back row, he’s a very good ball-carrier.

“He’s an openside by trade, but he’s played a lot at six and eight.

“We feel his form at the end of last season, and especially at the beginning of this season, gives us an opportunity to look at someone else. He’ll be challenging for a place now and in the Six Nations, like Magnus will be as well.”