Lancaster can coach Lions

Editor

England Rugby boss Ian Ritchie has said that the RFU will not stand in any of their coaches way should they be asked to coach the British and Irish Lions.

A decision on who will lead the Lions in New Zealand in 2017 is set to be made next year.

Wary that how each team performs in the Rugby World Cup will have a bearing on who makes the cut, Ritchie stated that it would be "an honour" for the union if Lancaster was asked to take the role.

Warren Gatland took up the role when the Lions went to Australia two years ago after being temporarily released by Wales.

"The timetable for looking at Lions coaches is into 2016, so no doubt everyone will evaluate that against the World Cup performance," said Ritchie.

"We had Andy Farrell and Graham Rowntree as assistant coaches on the last tour and I think it's a great honour to be the Lions coach.

"If Stuart was selected and if he wanted to do it, we'd regard it as an honour and of course we'd release him for it."