Rory Best wants even split of Lions coaches in 2025
Former Ireland captain Rory Best has suggested the British & Irish Lions need to adopt more of a four nation spread to their coaching team in 2025.
Best, who toured with the Lions in 2013 and 2017, believes there was too much preference given to Welsh and Scottish players in the South African series.
Warren Gatland was the head coach this year, with Gregor Townsend and Steve Tandy (Scotland coaches), and Robin McBryde and Neil Jenkins (Wales) his assistants.
Speaking to RTE’s Game On, the retired hooker is keen to see an even split of coaches in Australia next time around, which includes a new head coach.
An even spread
“I would like to see a British or Irish head coach. I would also like to see coaches from each of the four nations included in that,” the Ulster legend said.
“I think it gives you an even spread, it gives you that you treat the Lions with respect. There can be no arguments over selection.
“The problem with this tour, if you were a bit cynical about it, is that there were a lot of Welsh and a lot of Scottish played at times. I don’t think it should be a case of which voice is loudest in the room.
“It should be an equal balance of that and then pick the best players.”
Warren Gatland backed to lead Lions in 2025
This comes after it emerged that three-time British and Irish Lions head coach Gatland could return to lead the famous touring side in 2025.
The Lions take on Australia next, 12 years after Gatland first led the team down under.
Prior to the New Zealander taking charge, they hadn’t won a series since 1997, but that all changed in 2013 as they defeated the Wallabies 2-1.
Four years later, they secured a creditable draw with the All Blacks before narrowly being edged out by South Africa in 2021.
Despite that defeat to the Springboks, Lions chairman Jason Leonard and managing director Ben Calveley have effectively said the job is Gatland’s if he wants it.
Gatland's job on the line?
Mark Smith and Adam Kyriacou from the Planet Rugby Show discuss the future of Warren Gatland after his British and Irish Lions lost the series against South Africa 2-1.