Townsend has been helping Andy Robinson at Edinburgh

Former Lions fly-half Gregor Townsend is to take over from fellow former Scotland cap Sean Lineen as back-line coach with the international set-up.

Glasgow Warriors coach Lineen undertook the role for last summer's matches in Argentina and the autumn Tests.

But Scottish Rugby stressed that it had always been his intention to again concentrate on his club role.

Lineen and his Edinburgh counterpart, Andy Robinson, will continue to be involved in national team selection.

Townsend, who will work alongside national coach Frank Hadden and assistants Mike Brewer and Graham Steadman, takes up his appointment as Scotland prepare for the forthcoming Six Nations campaign.

And the 35-year-old paid tribute to the role played by the Winning Scotland Foundation mentoring programme, through which he has already worked with the Edinburgh and Scotland A squads, for fast-tracking his entry into coaching.

Gregor has already made a considerable impact in working with the players at Edinburgh and Scotland A Scotland coach Frank Hadden

"I can't wait to get started working with the players and the challenge of getting them to perform consistently at their best level," said Townsend.

"Part of the attraction of joining the foundation 18 months ago was their commitment to supporting my development as a coach.

"For example, this has enabled me to work regularly with Edinburgh, spend a week with the Queensland Reds and also attend numerous coaching courses.

"I am now looking forward to applying the knowledge and insights I have gained from the foundation and my 12 years of experience as a professional rugby player to help the Scotland team."

Hadden welcomed the appointment of Townsend, who won 82 caps and played club rugby in England, France, Scotland and South Africa.

"Gregor has already made a considerable impact in working with the players at Edinburgh and Scotland A and the support he has championed for players through the Winning Scotland Foundation's mentoring programme underlines the appetite from elite players for the experience and technical guidance that he brings.

"I think it significant too, with all Gregor's experience as a player, that he will be able to offer one-on-one advice to Scotland players and that insight can only be valuable, especially in the year of a British and Irish Lions tour."

Townsend's appointment came on the day when Matt Williams, the coach who called an end to the versatile back's 10-year international career in 2003, returned to Scotland with his Ulster side to face Edinburgh.

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