Lions 2013: Gatland omits Shaun Edwards from coaching staff
Last updated on .From the section Rugby Union
British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland has sprung a surprise by omitting his Wales assistant Shaun Edwards for next year's Australia tour.
England forwards coach Graham Rowntree, backs coach Andy Farrell, and Wales attack coach Rob Howley will form Gatland's backroom team down under.
But there is no place for Edwards, who also worked with him at Wasps before their partnership with Wales.
Rowntree and Howley, along with Edwards, worked on the 2009 Lions tour.
But this will be Farrell's first Lions involvement, having overseen after initially turning down the chance to make his 2012 Six Nations role permanent.
Gatland described Farrell's inclusion as "a bit of a selfish appointment" in a team that tour manager Andy Irvine said combined "experience, continuity and some new blood".
"I have heard so much positive feedback about Andy from other coaches and players," Gatland said. "It helps to stimulate me and it is positive in terms of freshening up the coaching team."
Asked about the absence of Edwards, Gatland told BBC Sport: "Obviously he was disappointed. It was an agonising decision to make. But when I looked at the set-up, I wanted continuity from 2009 and the experience that was gained there, but also a bit of freshness.
"Andy comes hugely recommended, he is very well thought of. But that is taking nothing away from Shaun. He is a world-class coach and has been very successful in the role he has. It was a tough decision, but I have made that call and it is something I have to live by."
Gatland also revealed he had spoken to fellow New Zealander Joe Schmidt, the coach who has guided Leinster to their last two Heineken Cup crowns.
"He has done a fantastic job in Ireland," Gatland noted. "There is more than one coach that would have fancied the chance of being on this tour.
"But there are no restrictions and we may add one or two more people to the backroom staff over the coming months if we feel we need to add to the depth and experience there."
Farrell said it was "an honour and privilege to be asked to be a small part of the 125-year history of the Lions."
"I feel very humble to be involved," he added. "As a player or a coach, this is the ultimate."
Forwards expert Rowntree, a member of the England coaching staff since 2007, worked as a scrummaging coach on the 2009 tour to South Africa, where the Lions lost the Test series 2-1.
The former England and Leicester prop also toured with the Lions as a player in 1997 and 2005, and was one of the few coaches to emerge with credit from the leaked review of England's underwhelming quarter-final exit from the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
"With players coming from four countries and different playing styles, it is crucial we find the right blend very quickly," Rowntree said. "They have to get to know each other on the field, and, importantly, off it as well and build up that camaraderie."
Former scrum-half Howley, a Lion in 1997 and 2001, has stepped in as Wales' caretaker coach on last summer's tour to Australia and for the first two matches of this autumn's series, losing five of his six games in charge.
"When you look at the talent we have got at our disposal, and the style we want to play with the Lions, the greatest thing about being part of the coaching team is facilitating talented players," Howley said.
Scotland team doctor James Robson was also confirmed as a member of the Lions staff for a sixth successive tour, following his initial appointment for the 1993 tour to New Zealand.
"The entire management team is delighted that James is on board once again," said Lions tour manager Andy Irvine. "His extensive experience of all things 'Lions' is invaluable, and his knowledge of player management in terms of welfare and medical assistance is second to none."
The Lions will play the Barbarians in Hong Kong on Saturday 1 June before taking on Western Force in their opening match in Australia four days later, while the first Test of the 10-match tour is on 22 June in Brisbane.
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The WRU must have short memories if they have forgotten what happend with Graham Henry taking the Lions post while coaching Wales.
My best "live" sports memory was seeing The Lions beat Australia in 1989. Finlay Calder put a shoulder into Simon Poidevin that was 7.9 on the Richter scale. I have never been so proud of a team.
Coaching team looks good. Faz, Raz, Haz and Gaz! :-)
Think Schmidt should go also.
This is just yet another day of the Beeb trying to get English and Welsh fans to kick lumps out of one another over something that won't even be decided for six months.
Why can't we have a few...just a few discussions about English club sides. We do pay our licence fees too!
@67 I am Welsh and went to Australia in 2001. I did find it hard however to support them in 2005 as that was a shambles of a tour.
22. 97 Lions would never have won without Gibbs and Jenkins (they put him at full bank just to get him in the side). Howley was nailed on for the scrum half berth, Ieuan Evans, Bateman.
You could say the same for Dawson, MJ and Guscott!
Its a TEAM game, why don't the Welsh just accept that and why are they always the greatest?
Evans only played one test and didn't factor in much of it to my memory. Bateman never started a test and only played midweek