Lions role for Gregor Townsend is on the agenda

Warren Gatland could install two specialist attack coaches to bolster the British and Irish Lions' tour to New Zealand next summer, opening up the possibility of a role for Gregor Townsend.

Glasgow Warriors head coach Gregor Townsend. Picture: SNS

Lions head coach Gatland has revealed he is seriously considering adding an extra attack co-ordinator to his backroom staff, to be announced on 7 December.

Gatland’s deliberations leave the door open for Wales’ Rob Howley and Glasgow’s Scotland-bound coach Townsend to double up and lead the Lions’ offence.

“From a coaching [numbers] point of view, it will be pretty much the same as last time,” said Gatland, who led the Lions to a series win in Australia in 2013.

“What I’m actually looking to do is maybe add another attack person.

“The reason for that is to really take some pressure off the coaches.

“When you are on tour, you are sometimes preparing two teams and there are lots of times from a coaching perspective where we are training twice a day.

“So we are potentially looking to add one more coach to cope with those demands and take some of the pressure off.”

Townsend is due to leave Glasgow to coach Scotland this summer.