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Davies: Lions role an honour
21/11/2007 13:20 - (SA)
London - Former Wales wing Gerald Davies, twice a British and Irish Lions tourist as a player, will return as manager of the 2009 combined side in South Africa, Lions management said on Tuesday.
Davies, who toured South Africa in 1968 and was part of the victorious 1971 team in New Zealand, will lead the party against the newly crowned world champions as they seek a repeat of 1997 when they took the series 2-1 against the then-world champions.
Former Scotland international Andy Irvine, a three-time tourist with the Lions, has been appointed chairperson of the Lions board and succeeds Bill Beaumont, who stood down due to his International Rugby Board commitments.
"It is an extraordinary honour for me," Davies told a news conference.
"I hope now I can fulfill the faith that people have shown in me and am determined it will be a happy and successful tour."
The coach will not be chosen until after the 2009 Six Nations championship, with Lions CEO John Feehan saying that an overseas appointment was unlikely but not impossible.
Ireland's Eddie O'Sullivan has long been the front runner but lost ground after his side's poor showing in the World Cup.
The 2009 appointments were announced as the Lions revealed a sponsorship deal with HSBC, which local media estimated to be worth around four million pounds.
"Some people have said that in the professional era the Lions are an anachronism," said Davies. "But with the TV and commercial rights, up to 30 000 travelling fans in New Zealand and as many as 50 000 in South Africa I say if that is an anachronism then let's have more of them."
Martin Johnson, who captained the Lions to their series victory 10 years ago, agreed that the combined team had retained its special status.
"That 1997 tour was the best experience of my rugby career," said Johnson, who also led England to World Cup triumph in 2003.
"For the next team to be facing the world champions will make it one of the greatest and most exciting tours of the modern era."
Feehan said that the 2009 itinerary had been just about settled but would not reveal any details.
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