GREGOR Townsend has been identified by Harlequins as a possible successor for Conor O’Shea as their director of rugby, according to a report in London. O’Shea is leaving The Stoop at the end of the season to take over as Italy’s head coach, and the style of rugby implemented by Townsend at Glasgow Warriors has led to his being seen as a suitable replacement.

Sean Fitzpatrick, the former All Blacks captain and a director of Harlequins, is in charge of the search for a coach. Wayne Smith, another former All Black, had been linked with the job but is understood to be content with his present post as assistant to New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen.

Townsend, 42, is under contract with Scottish Rugby until the summer of 2017 - as are the other senior figures in the Scotland set-up, national coach Vern Cotter and Edinburgh coach Alan Solomons. French clubs have also previously expressed an interest in recruiting the former Scotland back, who played for Brive and Castres around the turn of the century. Glasgow Warriors were unavailable for comment last night.