HEAD COACH – SIR CLIVE WOODWARD
Home Union: England
Lions Record: Playing 1980 & 1983. Toured South Africa in 1983 playing in 2nd and 3rd tests, also appeared in nine other matches scoring 4 tries, 5 conversions, 8 penalties and 1 drop goal to make a total of 53 tour points. Also toured New Zealand in 1983 playing in 7 games and scoring one penalty goal.
Sir Clive has been confirmed as coach for the 2005 tour since the beginning of 2004. His pedigree is exceptional as the only northern hemisphere coach to have lifted the Rugby World Cup. His disappointment with the last tour was made very public in 2001 and he will be pitting his wits against the former Lions coach of that tour that he derided so publicly. His battles with his opposite number Graham Henry will be intense and Woodward will be desperate to put right the failings of the 2001 tour
TOUR MANAGER – BILL BEAUMONT OBE
Home Union: England
Lions Record: Playing 1977 & 1980 (captain) Toured New Zealand 1977 playing in three of the four test matches. Captained the 1980 losing tour to South Africa losing 3-1.
The current Chairman of the Lions committee and former Lions captain in the 1980 tour to South Africa, will relish this opportunity to oversee the operational side of the tour. Beaumont’s standing within the game is unrivalled holding important positions within the IRB, Six Nations committee, British Lions committee and RFU. Beaumont’s calming yet strong influence over the tour party will be critical to ensure the team gel successfully to ensure a test series win over the All Blacks. Beaumont’s two unsuccessful playing tours will see him even more determined to ensure success in 2005
ASSISTANT COACH – EDDIE O’SULLIVAN
Home Union: Ireland
Lions record: No record
The current head coach of Ireland has won massive compliments throughout the world of rugby for his impressive record in coaching throughout his career to date including clinching the Triple Crown in 2004 for the first time since 1985. O’Sullivan was tipped as an outsider for the head coach position and will be seen as pivotal by Woodward in his shaping of the test team to face the All Blacks.
ASSISTANT COACH – ANDY ROBINSON OBE>
Home Union: England
Lions Record: Playing 1989, Coaching 2001. The 1989 tour to Australia saw Robinson play 6 matches but no tests on the tour. He did manage to score two tries on the tour. Robinson also played in the unofficial test match against France in Paris in 1989. Andy Robinson also toured with the 2001 Lions as Assistant Coach to Graham Henry.
Andy Robinson is one of Clive Woodward’s most loyal supporters and lynchpins. Robinson is renowned as being Woodward’s long term right hand man with England seeing them through to the successful World Cup Campaign in 2003. Although now Head Coach of England in his own right, Robinson will be keen to link up with Woodward again and re-form the partnership that made English rugby so successful and try to emulate that with the Lions.
ASSISTANT COACH – IAN MCGEECHAN
Home Union: Scotland
Lions Record: Playing 1974 & 1977, Coaching 1989, 1993 & 1997. Toured South Africa on victorious 1974 tour playing 14 matches including 4 test matches. 1977 tour to New Zealand saw Geechs make 16 appearances for the Lions including all four test matches and the one off test against Fiji on the way home. Ian captained the Lions on two provincial matches in New Zealand. He also played in the Queens Silver Jubilee unofficial game against the Barbarians in 1977. Geechs Lions coaching career began in 1989 with the victorious tour to Australia winning 2-1. This was followed by a losing tour to New Zealand four years later and was then followed up with a successful tour to South Africa in 1997 resulting in a 2-1 win for the Lions.
McGeechan is the most successful Lions coach in the history of the touring side. Confirming McGeechan as an assistant coach will be a major coup for Woodward and his experience will be invaluable in looking after the second string side and ensuring competition for places is high. Geech’s will be hoping that the 2005 Lions will be able to complete his hat trick of coaching series wins by claiming the scalp of New Zealand to add to his coaching wins over Australia and South Africa previously.
ASSISTANT COACH – GARETH JENKINS
Home Union: Wales
Lions Record: No Record
Gareth Jenkins appointment to the 2005 British and Irish Lions tour has come primarily as a result of his missing out on the Welsh national coaching position that he had been earmarked for. The WRU appointed Mike Ruddock instead and Jenkins was left out of all coaching duties with the national side, however this has been turned to his advantage when the WRU banned all Welsh coaching staff from participating in the Lions tour. Jenkins was therefore free to participate and was subsequently invited by Clive Woodward to join the tour. Jenkins’ exceptional coaching abilities will be put to good use under Ian McGeechans guidance whilst overseeing the midweek side on tour.
DEFENSE COACH – PHIL LARDER MBE
Home Union: England
Lions Record: Coaching 2001. Larder was defence coach for the unsuccessful tour to Australia in 2001.
Former Rugby League stalwart, Phil Larder joined England as the first specialist coach of his kind under Clive Woodward. His talent and abilities are recognised through the game and his appointment will be welcomed throughout the team.
DEFENSE COACH – MIKE FORD
Home Union: Ireland
Lions Record: No Record
Another former Rugby League coach, Ford has made his name within a tough tackling uncompromising Ireland side that has been rejuvenated under O’Sullivan and Ford. Working alongside McGeechan and Jenkins, Ford will oversee all defensive duties for the midweek side.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE – JOHN FEEHAN
Home Union: Ireland
Lions Record: Appointed Commercial Director of the British & Irish Lions in 2002, he progressed to Acting CEO and finally on to CEO in February 2003.
John Feehan’s background is very much from the business and commercial side of the tour. Although he has a playing career including representing Irish Universities and Leinster, his business background has seen his rise through the ranks at British Lions Limited to his position as CEO.
TOUR MANAGER – LOUISE RAMSAY MBE
Home Union: England
Louise’s joined England on their successful World Cup campaign in 2003, tour to Argentina in 2002 and Summer tour to Australia and New Zealand in 2004. She previously worked with the British Olympic Committee winning her MBE as a result of that work over a ten year period. Louise was appointed Tour Manager at the same time as Clive Woodwards appointment to Head Coach and his faith in her abilities to manage the tour were recognised as crucial in the successful running of the tour.
KICKING COACH – DAVE ALDRED MBE
Home Union: England
Lions Record: Coaching 2001. Aldred was kicking coach for the unsuccessful tour to Australia in 2001.
Dave Aldred has worked with England since 1995 as their specialist kicking coach. His role was initially on a part time basis but his work with accomplished kickers such as Rob Andrew and Jonny Wilkinson earned him a full time position in 2000. Dave also toured with the Lions in 2001.
FITNESS COACH – DAVE REDDIN MBE
Home Union: England
Dave “Otis” Reddin has worked with the England team as fitness coach since 1997. Dave will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the fitness and conditioning regimes required to keep the squad in top condition for the tour.
CRAIG WHITE – FITNESS COACH
Home Union: England
Craig has worked as a Strength and Conditioning coach since 1990 for teams including Waterloo RFC and the Irish RFU before taking up a position with Wasps RFU in 2002. Working with Dave Reddin, White’s duties will be to ensure the players dietary and conditioning training will be of the highest standard.
VIDEO ANALYST – TONY BISCOMBE
Home Union: England
Tony joined the RFU in 1989, but his work has only more recently seen since Clive Woodward focused more of his time upon technical and video analysis of individual players and their strengths and weaknesses. He will be looking after all aspects of team analysis and opposition analysis for the entire squad.
VIDEO ANALYST – GAVIN SCOTT
Home Union: Scotland
Having played professionally for Glasgow, Gavin moved into Technical Analysis upon retirement and has been working as the Video Analyst for Glasgow and the Scottish RFU since 2002. Alongside Tony, his experience will be vital to ensure that all aspects of a technical nature will be covered throughout the tour.
TOUR DOCTOR – JAMES ROBSON
Home Union: Scotland
Lions Record: Team Doctor for his fourth successive tour having previously toured in 1993, 1997 and 2001.
James first became involved with the Scottish national team as physio on the 1991 tour to Canada beginning a long association with Rugby Union and the Lions seeing him follow successive tours ever since. His experience will undoubtedly be welcomed by the other members of the medical party on tour.
DOCTOR – GARY O’DRISCOLL
Home Union: Ireland
Gary has worked extensively with the Ireland U21 team since 1999 and oversaw 3 World Cups during his time, but he progressed on to the senior team in 2002 and toured with them on their 2003 World Cup Campaign. And if you were wondering, he is in fact related to the current Ireland & Lions captain, Brian is Gary’s second cousin.
PHYSIOTHERAPIST – PHIL PASK
Home Union: England
Phil has been involved with England rugby through all levels of the game. Following a successful playing career with Northampton, he progressed into fitness and conditioning before turning to physiotherapy. He has looked after players from school boy level right through to the senior England squad.
PHYSIOTHERAPIST/MASSEUR – BOB STEWART
Home Union: Scotland
Bob joined the SRU on a part time basis in 1998 and since 2000 has attended every tournament that Scotland have been in including the World Cup Campaign in 2003.
PHYSIOTHERAPIST/MASSEUR – STUART BARTON
Home Union: Scotland
Stuart has worked with the Scottish Rugby Union since 1998 and his experience with the side has seen him look after the players in two World Cups.
MASSEUR – RICHARD WEGRZYK
Home Union: England
Lions Record: Team Masseur 1997 & 2001.
Wegrzyk was appointed by the RFU in 1992 and has run up a huge tally of matches as England’s top masseur. He is a veteran of Lions tours and this will be his third trip with the team.
TEAM CHEF – DAVE CAMPBELL
Home Union: England
Dave Campbell’s appointment to the position of Chef for the England team came about as a result of the 1995 World Cup Final food poisoning scandal. In order to avoid any chance of a repeat Clive Woodward installed Dave as his chef for all major competitions. Although he has traveled with the successful Rugby World Cup winning England side, this will be Dave’s first Lions tour.
KIT TECHNICIAN – DAVE TENNISSON
Home Union: England
Dave has worked with the RFU since 2002 as their Kit Technician and his experience with the team on their World Cup campaign in 2003 will stand him in good stead for the tour.
MEDIA LIASON – LOUISA CHEETHAM
Home Union: None (She’s from the USA)
Lions Record: Louisa worked on the 2001 tour to Australia.
Louisa joins the tour from a background in sports management and sports agencies. She has worked with the Zurich Premiership, Rugby World Cup and previous Lions tour to Australia.
SPECIALIST ADVISOR – DAVID MCHUGH
Home Union: Ireland
Dave has been an experienced international referee with 29 test matches under his belt before retiring in 2004. He refereed in two world cups and is the only ref to have taken charge of two Heineken Cup Finals. He now works as a Referee Development Officer for the IRU. His experience and advice will be invaluable for the tourists in New Zealand.
LEGAL SUPPORT – RICHARD SMITH
Home Union: England
Richard first joined up with the England team prior to the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia to much the derision of Clive Woodward’s over cautiousness. However, his presence and experience paid off when the England team found themselves with disciplinary problems on the tour. Richards advice and experience will again be on hand if the Lions find themselves in a similar situation.
MEDIA CONSULTANT – ALASTAIR CAMPBELL
Home Union: England
Alastair Campbell found fame through his political career at the side of Prime Minister Tony Blair as his chief Spin Doctor, or more formally known as his spokesperson. Alastair will join the tour following the completion of his duties with the Labour party after the election next year and will his experience will assist the Lions in avoiding any repeats of the media incidents that occured on the previous tour to Australia.
