Lions pride for McGeechan

Published on Thursday 21 October 2004 14:00

IAN McGEECHAN was today savouring a fourth coaching assignment with the British and Irish Lions - as part of a six-strong Scottish contingent.

The 57-year-old Murrayfield director of rugby heads for New Zealand next year as part of Sir Clive Woodward’s management team that has a distinctly tartan edge with rugby in Edinburgh also contributing heavily to the bid to bring down the All Blacks. In addition to McGeechan there are calls for Edinburgh Gunners and Scotland physio Stuart Barton while Currie captain and hooker, Gavin Scott, will take the performance analysis skills employed at national level down under.

Other Scots involved will be Scotland team doctor James Robson who will be making a fourth consecutive Lions tour and Glasgow Rugby and Scotland team physiotherapist Bob Stewart. Also, Glaswegian chef Dave Campbell, who works with the English RFU, will travel.

That appointment of Campbell underlines the extensive nature of the back up with 26 individuals lined up to support a playing pool expected to be 44 strong.

It is anticipated McGeechan will be part of the midweek team coaching panel which is also to comprise Gareth Jenkins (Llanelli director of rugby) and Mike Ford, the former rugby league ace who is a defence specialist with Ireland and Saracens.

Expected to spearhead the weekend team’s coaching panel are Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan, England defensive coach Phil Larder and his Six Nations’ boss, Andy Robinson.

In overall charge will be Sir Clive Woodward.

Ian McGeechan said: "The Lions are unique and it is a great honour to be involved again.

"A Lions tour of New Zealand is huge. It will be the biggest rugby event to happen next year and it’s important that Scottish Rugby is involved."

Scottish Rugby’s Chief Executive Phil Anderton said: "I congratulate our five employees on this tremendous honour for them and Scottish Rugby. We believe in the British and Irish Lions. The Lions are an integral part of rugby’s heritage - they are part of what makes our sport so special - and we believe they are worthy of our full support.

"Ian McGeechan is one of the greatest Lions. He has toured with the Lions twice as a player and next year will be his fourth trip as a member of management. In New Zealand he will be an assistant coach ensuring that Scottish Rugby is represented at the very apex of the game.

"Scottish Rugby has to be at the top table - to listen, learn and share knowledge - and we can benefit at all levels of the sport from Ian’s involvement with the Lions.

"Our clubs will have determined our strategy for the next four years by then and much planning will already have taken place by the time the Lions squad departs to accommodate any changes to our structure.

"We know now that these employees are going to be on the tour and we will ensure that we have the right management team in place to deliver the plan in their absence.

"It is also a marvellous tribute to our Scotland team doctor James Robson that he will be embarking on his fourth Lions tour and it says much for the esteem in which our medical back-up is regarded that Stuart Barton and Bob Stewart will be part of the Lions management.

"Gavin Scott was one of our first professional players and as a hooker was on the bench for Scotland and represented Scotland A, the Scotland Sevens team and Glasgow Rugby. He moved into the role of analyst around two years ago and, once again, it is fitting recognition for the excellence Gavin has achieved that he has been chosen for the Lions management."

British and Irish Lions management team: Sir Clive Woodward (head coach), Bill Beaumont (tour manager), Andy Robinson (coach), Eddie O'Sullivan (coach), Phil Larder (coach), Ian McGeechan (coach), Gareth Jenkins (coach), Mike Ford (coach), John Feehan (chief executive), Louise Ramsay (team manager), Dave Alred (specialist coach), Dave Reddin (fitness coach), Craig White (fitness coach), Tony Biscombe (video analyst), Gavin Scott (video analyst), James Robson (head doctor), Gary O'Driscoll (doctor), Phil Pask (physiotherapist), Bob Stewart (physiotherapist/masseur), Stuart Barton (physiotherapist/masseur), Richard Wegrzyk (masseur), Dave Campbell (chef), Dave Tennison (kit technician), Louisa Cheetham (media liaison), David McHugh (specialist advisor), Richard Smith (legal support).

PERPIGNAN will choose from a pool of 24 players for tomorrow’s Heineken European Cup tie against Edinburgh in France.

Squad: Forwards from: Chobet, Debaty, Mas, Grelon, Van den Heever, Alvarez-Kairelis, Gaston, O’Driscoll, Porcu, Goutta, Labat, Robertson, Tonita. Backs from: Durand, Descons, Edmonds, Laharrague, Bomati, Luger, Grandclaude, Hume, Marty, Giannantonio, Van den Heever.

WATSONIAN scrum half Jamie Blackwood is in line for a double shift this weekend with bench duty for Edinburgh and inclusion in Watsonians’ squad for the BT Premiership derby with Heriot’s on Saturday.