Scotland head coach Vern Cotter to take over at Montpellier

Scotland head coach Vern Cotter has agreed to take over French Top 14 side Montpellier at the start of next season.

The 54-year-old has been in charge of the Scottish national side since 2014, but it was revealed last month that Gregor Townsend would replace him at the end of the season.

Cotter will now return to the French Top 14, replacing South African Jake White when his Montpellier contract ends in June.

"The arrival of Vern Cotter for the 2017-2018 season, should help, too, to write a new chapter in the history of MHR (Montpellier) and continue to grow," read a statement from Montpellier.

Cotter, who coached Clermont Auvergne to the 2010 Top 14 title, will oversee matches against Australia, Argentina and Georgia in November, before leading Scotland into the 2017 Six Nations.