Lions hire Guy Richardson for 2013

FORMER Scotland team manager Guy Richardson has been appointed the director of operations for the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia in 2013.

Richardson stepped down from his role with Scotland in July having taken up the job in 2004, during which time he oversaw all the national team's RBS Six Nations, autumn international, summer tour and Rugby World Cup fixtures.

He has previous Lions experience having been seconded from the Scottish Rugby Union to become logistics officer for the tour to South Africa last year, travelling ahead of the squad to ensure everything was in place at hotels, training grounds and match venues.

Richardson also served with the Royal Scots (the Royal regiment) for 20 years during his military career, reaching the rank of Major. He is a former Scottish Schools and Edinburgh Accies flanker, whose brothers Jeremy and Charlie played representative rugby to a high level, with Jeremy winning a Scotland cap against South Africa in 1994. "We are delighted to have Guy on board. He will be a great asset to the Lions," said Lions chief executive John Feehan.