England Coaches In Line for Lions Roles

The British & Irish Lions are currently in the process of interviewing the prime candidates for the head coach role, but it is understood the rest of the coaching team is also taking shape.

Whilst the New Zealand born trio of Warren Gatland, Vern Cotter and Joe Schmidt are being interviewed for the main job of leading the Lions back to their home land as Head Coach, the Lions are eyeing up two of Englands leading backroom team to assist the chosen candidate.

Forwards Coach Steve Borthwick and Defence coach Paul Gustard are at the head of the pack for a place in the coaching team with the Lions management extremely impressed with the resurgence in English rugby since the arrival of Head Coach Eddie Jones and his backroom team.

The Rugby Paper’s Peter Jackson reports that Jones and the RFU are very keen that Borthwick and Gustard take up positions on the tour next summer to advance their development as coaches.

Following the English Grand Slam and subsequent 3-0 series whitewash of Australia in the Southern Hemisphere the coaching team have seen their stock rise considerably.

Borthwick’s performance with Japan in the Rugby World Cup in 2015 and recent success with England, particularly in the line-out are set to seal his inclusion in the touring party.

With Gustard it’s a little less certain with the resurgence of former England and Lions Defence Coach Andy Farrell enjoying a resurgence of his career with Ireland narrowly missing out on a series victory of their own in South Africa.

The coaching appointments are set to be finalised int he next few weeks and an announcement on the make up of the coaching team to tour New Zealand in 2017 is expected ahead of the upcoming domestic rugby season.