Gatland and Edwards linked to Lions

10:52am Tuesday 13th May 2008

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SPECULATION was growing Warren Gatland and Shaun Edwards will be part of the British and Irish Lions coaching team for next summer's tour to South Africa, forming an impressive triumvirate with Ian McGeechan.

McGeechan is widely expected to be named Lions head coach at a press conference in London tomorrow morning for the eagerly anticipated tour which includes a three-match Test series against the world champions.

There are rumours the Scot wants Wales' Grand Slam winning duo of Gatland and Edwards as his trusted lieutenants. But the announcement of McGeechan's coaching staff may not be made until later in the year.

Lions manager for the tour, Welsh rugby legend Gerald Davies, said: "We plan to name only the head coach tomorrow.

The way it will work is that I will then sit down with him and we will discuss the team of coaches to go with us to South Africa.

It may not be until the autumn that we officially announce the names of all concerned.

Nothing has been decided on that front yet.'' However, it is reported former All Blacks hooker Gatland could be forwards coach with Wigan and Great Britain rugby legend Edwards joining as another of McGeechan's deputies.

Gatland and Edwards masterminded London Wasps' transformation from English also-rans into the country's premier team and then European top dogs when they won the 2004 Heineken Cup.

McGeechan was appointed Wasps director of rugby in 2005, after Gatland left to return to New Zealand.

Geech', with Edwards as head coach, have gone on to deliver continued success for Wasps after they won their second Heineken Cup in 2007 and the club is in the play-offs for this season's Guinness Premiership title.

It is believed McGeechan played a pivotal role in Edwards joining Gatland and Wales as defence coach, by persuading the club's top brass to allow him to join on a part-time basis to gain international experience.

McGeechan has a great Lions pedigree. As a player he featured in the Test matches when they beat the Boks 3-0 in the 1974 series.

As a coach he steered the tourists to series victories against Australia in 1989 and South Africa in 1997, when the Springboks were also then the World Cup holders.