A foreign manager for the British Lions rugby team

Alright, so England and Scotland football teams have done it and plumped for a big name foreigner with varying degrees of success or failure.

It now seems from all the Lions Nations that we can't find a coach either.

Surely this is too far and we can find a bloody coach from the entire British Isles?

Jake White from South Africa appears to be the name in the frame right now.

Kind of bizarre really since the first job of the new coach is the 2009 Lions Tour of SA.


He modestly fails to state who made them World Champions of course.

Considering that the whole country is run by foreigners (see William and Mary of Orange, the Hanoverian Georges, the mixed heritage offspring of Queen Victoria and Albert von Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and the Prince of Wales who is part Greek), why not have a foreigner coaching an English sport?

If only people from a specific country were allowed to work in that country, there would be a lot of us wondering where next month's rent payment would be coming from to be honest.

Warren Gatland now being touted for the job.

i think it is not only acceptable that a foreigner coach the Lions but essential.

You can liken the home nations to Wales in some respect. In Wales we have four professional regions with very partisan fans. When the WRU appoint a national coach from, say Llanelli Scarlets, who then proceeds to favour Llanelli players the fans from the other regions are in uproar and are unable to unite behind the team due to their parochial partisan thinking.

It is much the same for the Lions. When no Scots were picket and the many 2005 Grand Slam winners overlooked for the tests by SCW, the fans were in uproar. The Scots supported New Zealand (well many did, anyways) and the Welsh couldn't help but feel that SCW was a tosser who only picked players he knew.

A foreign coach is essential to break this tribalism. And not just any coach. Warren Gatland wouldn't do, he is far too much a part of the Welsh set-up now to be seen as non-partisan. The Lions needs a coach who can come with a blank piece of paper and pick a squad without pressure to include certain groups of players.

I also believe that a coach of one of the home nations can't continue to be national coach AND coach the Lions. How can go week-in, week-out trying to build up your own players and convince them they are world best and then not pick them for the Lions? It could ruin relationships between national coach and players and destroy trust. Just look at Steve Hanson, as an example.

So we're talking White then?

That'll be a vote for Jake White then?

Especially with his inside knowledge of South Africa.

Edit: Gids beat me to it.

yep, I'd be happy for White to coach the Lions. I think it will be a nice fill-in for him until the England job becomes available too.

He may not need a fill in, Ashton unsure of England future.

yeah but he said that after the world cup too. I know England have been dismal but Brian might just have done enough to cling in there at least for another season. Although there is an indication from that article that may be thinking of quitting.

Looks like Ian McGeechan may be getting the nod as Lions coach.