Irvine explores the availability of Gatland for role of coach

LIONS TOUR:LESS THAN 24 hours after Warren Gatland signed a four-year extension to his contract as Wales coach the Lions put the cat among the Cardiff pigeons yesterday by saying they would ask about his availability to coach them in Australia in 2013.

According to the new Lions manager, Andy Irvine, the job could take a 21-month bite out of a coach’s life at a time when Gatland has signed to take Wales through to the 2015 World Cup.

The alternative, Irvine hinted, was to persuade Ian McGeechan into a U-turn and a fifth tour as head coach.

McGeechan and Gatland worked together with the Lions in South Africa last year – a tour so successful, even if the Lions went down 2-1, that it is credited with saving them from extinction. When he returned McGeechan suggested it would be the last time he coached them.

Since then he has joined Bath as performance director but on a contract constructed so that he could have a role in 2013.

Gatland, during his contract negotiations, also asked what “down time” might be available when Wales tour Japan, possibly in 2013.

Yesterday he commented that he “hadn’t really thought about the Lions tour to Australia. I know they have appointed Andy Irvine as manager.

“It will depend on how well you are doing at the time and whoever they appoint as coach and whatever back-up team he wants.”

After Irvine’s appointment and the announcement that HSBC would remain as main sponsor the new manager said there were two “frontrunners” for the coaching job “but the big problem is the availability. I have an open mind about Geech (McGeechan). His record has to speak for itself, so he has to be in consideration. If he rules himself out, I wouldn’t press him but, if he throws his hat into the ring, we would seriously consider it.”

Then, after adding that he wanted the coach in place “at least 12 months, possibly 18 months or even 21 months” before the tour, Irvine at first suggested that meant no national coach from the 2013 Six Nations could be involved and that any overseas candidate started “five yards behind the starting line” in the race for the job.

However, Irvine suggested that after 2009 Gatland “would be regarded as one of us”.

“We would be in talks with the WRU about the level of commitment he has to give there,” said Irvine. However, Irvine said that, were McGeechan not head coach, he would probably not be on tour.

Elsewhere, the British and Irish Lions will break new ground in 2013 by preceding their tour of Australia by playing a match against the Barbarians in Hong Kong.

Lions officials announced the fixture yesterday when they also announced that Irvine, who went on three Lions tours, would be team manager for the tour.

He replaces Gerald Davies, who was manager in South Africa last year and who has been appointed Lions chairman.

“To be able to confirm that the Lions will break new ground with their first ever fixture in Hong Kong will ensure the tour to Australia is even more special,” Lions chief executive John Feehan said in a statement.

"The Lions will benefit hugely from having two highly regarded and respected former Lions at the helm for the tour to Australia." Guardian Service

Connacht's Hagan to win fitness race

CONNACHT HAVE received a huge boost with promising tighthead prop Jamie Hagan set to be fit to face Leinster in the Magners League on Saturday.

The 23-year old limped off with an ankle injury in the 16-13 win over Bayonne on Friday night and there were fears he might be out for some time as it was the recurrence of an old injury.

But coach Eric Elwood confirmed yesterday Hagan is likely to be fit to face his native Leinster at the Sportsground on Saturday evening. Connacht will be bidding for their third home win in a row over Leinster but Elwood expects a tough test.

“They are coming into this on the back of some very good results, especially their win away to Saracens, but we will go in with confidence as well after our win over Bayonne so it should be a great derby match,” said Elwood.