British and Irish Lions boss Warren Gatland has been given the green light to approach England coaches Graham Rowntree and Andy Farrell to join his management team.
Rowntree has long been expected to be part of the 2013 tour to Australia having worked alongside Gatland as part of Ian McGeechan's coaching team on the 2009 tour of South Africa.
Gatland revealed last week that Farrell is also a candidate for the role after hearing good reports of impact he made with the England set up.
"People have spoken highly about Andy and he is on a list of guys that I need to finalise and do my homework on," Gatland told the Daily Telegraph.
"I am talking to different people to make sure the make-up is right.
"He would be one of the guys on the list but I don't think at the moment there has been any agreement between the unions and the Lions."
RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie has confirmed that England would be willing to make alternative arrangements for their tour of Argentina next June to accomodate any invitations from the Lions.
The Lions management team is expected to be announced early in December.
"Our view is that it is still an honour to be asked to be involved with the Lions, we would regard it as such," said Ritchie.
"We want to support the Lions, we are one of the shareholders in the Lions, so why wouldn't we?
"Of course it has some difficulties in terms of the summer tour in Argentina but we would deal with that, depending on who it is and how we address it.
"You have to see it as an opportunity. Not only is it an honour but you would believe they would learn a lot in those situations and it gives us an opportunity to broaden our horizons.
"I don't see it as a negative. I see it very much as a positive."
Comments
trelawney says...
I have some questions to ask some of you posters.
@ArmchairGeneral Who is Les Kiss & at what club does he coach?
@NHsaints - What do you mean by a 'no-brainer Do you mean leave him out?
@heart_of_oak - Did you not know that Rowntree was a scrummger?
Posted 19:27 14th November 2012
heart_of_oak says...
Oh yes indeedy... specially on youtube. Selma Hayek, what can I say, but wow !
Now, back to Rugby chaps and a serious question.
Where, or should it be how, did Rowntree get those ears ?
Posted 11:44 09th November 2012
APV1 says...
@ heart_of_oak - must have been some interesting internet search results, eh..?!
;-)
Posted 10:25 09th November 2012
heart_of_oak says...
Okay, just found a reference to a Les Kiss here --> http://www.irishrugby.ie/coaches/4570.php
Les Kiss - now that's a heck of a name, eh chaps ? Conjures up some delightful images but I won't go there....
Posted 08:16 09th November 2012
heart_of_oak says...
Armchair General - you said 'I think Kiss turns defence into attack better than Farrell ...'
Forgive my ignorance but can you explain please ?
Posted 08:13 09th November 2012
NHsaints says...
Farrel is surely the most qualified defence coach here having taken the sarries defence to the best in Europe and England's one of the best in the 6 nations both in short periods of time and Edwards hasn't exactly managed that with London Irish...Take someone as an attack coach, Rowntree is a no-brainer and Gatland and we're sorted.
Posted 21:08 08th November 2012
heathy says...
I agree with all regarding Rowntree. He's earned his stripes now and everybody says what a good forwards coach he is. Farrell will not be an attack coach per se but a defence coach. He is a league man and this is what he helps England with. England have others for attack in Mike Catt etc. Shaun Edwards would be a natural choice too but I'm sure Gatland does not want to make it a Welsh coaching team. That would not go down well. Also Edwards has blotted his copybook recently and has been disciplined by the WRU for a scuffle (?). I'm therefore not sure whether Edwards will actually make the team (although I amy be inclined to pick him anyway - he is English after all lol).
Posted 15:48 08th November 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
Apv1: Not sure Edwards is a definite. Looks like Gatland is after a different and wider mix. I hope they break up that Wasps / Wales duet for this one. Sarries defence is now the role model and Farrell would be good to bring that in with what Gats brings from Wasps/Wales coaching model. Or. Les Kiss... Plenty of excellent defence coaches to pick from but what about attack?. I think Kiss turns defence into attack better than Farrell in his so far coaching career.
Posted 13:51 08th November 2012
melkdave says...
No objections from me Rowntree is an excellant scrum /forwards coach,and Farral,a very good systems coachWhere he finds ways to implement different ideas.
Posted 10:18 08th November 2012
rugby_rockstar says...
Yep, agree with what TV addict said. The England vs Wales match where, the massive welsh midfield were just plain thumped by Barritt and Tuilagi must have left a lasting impression on Mr Gatland.
Posted 11:34 07th November 2012
APV1 says...
I, too, am a little surprised by the Farrell suggestion. He must be much better than I give him credit for. Rowntree and Edwards are nailed-on.
@ JamieTheProp - I've heard that the coaches also learn and develop during the Lions tours. As such, they might bring back some nuggets for England to use too.
It also gives SL a chance to have other coaches in and around the England squad in Argentina, who will bring a new perspective and new ideas.
Posted 11:25 07th November 2012
TVaddict says...
Rowntree is no surprise as he's one of the best scrum coaches in the world and seems to be doing a good job as forwards coach. Farrell is more surprising however, he did managed to get a pretty much band new England team defending effectively very quickly, which is what is needed for the lions. So sounds good to me.
Posted 21:51 06th November 2012
JamieTheProp says...
I love the Lions but with the World Cup fast approaching and a huge amount of work still to do I'd rather see our coaches in Argentina developing the England side.
Especially with the usual faces in the EnglNd side possibly away with the Lions - it is a chance to play and gain a view on other players on the fringes!
Posted 20:34 06th November 2012
heart_of_oak says...
Hmmm not sure about this. I hope Shaun Edwards is appointed. Rowntree hasn't done too badly with the England scrum. Who will be attack coach I wonder. That's not how I see Andy Farrell.
Posted 18:20 06th November 2012