'Pinnacle of the sport' - Scotland coach explains reasons for leaving English champions
Lee Radford has now left Northampton Saints to focus fully on his role with the Scotland men’s national team.
Scotland defence coach Lee Radford has described international rugby as ‘the pinnacle of sport’ after leaving Northampton Saints and making his role with the SRU permanent.
The 47-year-old first took up the role with the men’s national team ahead of last year’s Autumn Nations Series in October 2025. He was ‘seconded’ to Murrayfield during the international window and the 2026 Six Nations before returning to his full-time job with the Gallagher Premiership side.
Saints went on to win English rugby’s top prize by defeating Exeter Chiefs in the final at Twickenham in what was Radford’s last match with the East Midlands club. He has now joined Scottish rugby full time and recently opened up on that decision while looking back on his time with Saints.
“It’s an honour” - Lee Radford goes full time with Scottish Rugby after leaving Northampton Saints
Speaking to our sister title The Northampton Chronicle, the former Rugby League star said: “I'm going to sound stupid here but I don't know what it looks like yet because I've not done it before. The international is very periodic.
“We've just come back because we had a week in Spain, week in Argentina, week in South Africa and a week back in Edinburgh so when you're in it's incredibly busy and the build-up is obviously busy but there's a long time between drinks. The challenge for me is to get into a pattern and getting into a routine during the week when there is that down time as well.
“It is an honour and something I never thought would happen so quickly. One of the reasons for taking Scotland up on the offer was that it doesn't come around that often.
“With the old what ifs, I didn't want to be in that predicament, and international rugby is the pinnacle of the sport. There is a World Cup around the corner (in 2027), which is incredibly appealing as well.
“But obviously I loved my time at Saints as well. I'm just loving what I'm doing at the minute and hopefully it can continue for a long time.”
Scotland coach reveals recipe for success that saw Northampton Saints win two PREM titles
Radford first joined Northampton in 2023 having previously worked with Hull FC and Castleford in the 13-a-side version of the sport. He was highly thought of at Franklin’s Gardens and leaves the club with lots of positive memories including two Gallagher Premiership titles and a Investec Champions Cup final.
“It's pretty surreal,” he said. “If you'd have told me prior to me getting the role that would happen then I'd have absolutely snapped your hand off.
“I've been very fortunate joining the club during this period. Everyone's best years are ahead of them. Timing's everything in sport - and the timing was perfect.”
In terms of how the group were able to achieve the success they did, Radford explained: “I think there's probably three parts to it. “One you'd say is the connection of the group – and I mean the staff as well. The relationship between the players and staff is as good as I've seen.
“Also, the players' friendships are super strong. Another thing is the actual playing group itself, there are some unbelievably talented players but they're an unbelievably hard-working group as well.
“Those two things usually go hand in hand and work really well together. Also, the coaches are some of the best I've worked with. You put all of those ingredients together and you've got a recipe for success.”
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