The 26 strong management team is the largest support party to tour with the British & Irish Lions in their history. Commenting on the appointments, Sir Clive said: “We have got the right management group behind the team, that is one of the key factors in ensuring that the Lions can deliver our ultimate aim of winning the Test series.
“Whether on the coaching, medical, fitness, media, logistics or legal side of things; it’s about creating the right blend and a support structure to give us the best opportunity to be successful in New Zealand.”
British & Irish Lions Management Team: New Zealand 2005
Sir Clive Woodward – Head Coach
Bill Beaumont – Tour Manager
Andy Robinson – Coach
Eddie O’Sullivan – Coach
Phil Larder – Coach
Ian McGeechan – Coach
Gareth Jenkins – Coach
Mike Ford – Coach
John Feehan – Chief Executive
Louise Ramsay – Team Manager
Dave Alred – Specialist Coach
Dave Reddin – Fitness Coach
Craig White – Fitness Coach
Tony Biscombe – Video Analyst
Gavin Scott – Video Analyst
James Robson – Head Doctor
Gary O’Driscoll – Doctor
Phil Pask – Physiotherapist
Bob Stewart – Physiotherapist / Masseur
Stuart Barton – Physiotherapist / Masseur
Richard Wegrzyk – Masseur
Dave Campbell – Chef
Dave Tennison – Kit Technician
Louisa Cheetham – Media Liaison
David McHugh – Specialist Adviser
Richard Smith – Legal Support
Biographies
Sir Clive Woodward – Head Coach
Born: 6th January 1956 (Ely, Cambridgeshire)
Playing
Position: Centre
Clubs: Harlequins / Leicester / Manly
Country: England (21 caps, 1980-84)
Lions: Toured South Africa in 1980 playing in the 2nd and 3rd tests at Bloemfontein and Port Elizabeth as a centre and right wing 1980 Tour he appeared in nine other games, scoring 4 tries, 5 conv, 8 pens and 1 drop for 53 points to be the 2nd highest scorer on the tour after Ireland’s Ollie Campbell. Sir Clive went on his 2nd Lions tour in 1983 (Captain Bill Beaumont) to New Zealand, playing in seven games (none of which were tests) and kicking a penalty goal against Hawke’s Bay in Napier.
Coaching
Club: Henley / London Irish / Bath
National Team: 1997-2004: England Head Coach
Record: 2003: Grand Slam, Rugby World Cup 2003, 59 games won, 22 games lost, 2 games drawn
Lions: Appointed February 2004 as Head Coach. First Englishman to coach the Lions since Lions tours first appointed specialised coaches in 1966.
Bill Beaumont: Tour Manager
Born: 9th March 1952 (Preston, Lancashire)
Playing
Position: 2nd Row
Club/County/Division: Flyde / Lancashire / Northern
Country: England (34 caps, 21 as England Captain)
Lions: Toured New Zealand with the Lions in 1977 participating in the final three tests having been called up as a replacement. Captain Lions to South Africa in 1980, the Lions lost the series 3-1.
Rugby Administrator
Governing Bodies: Held a number of governing body / roles including Director for European Rugby Cup, member of the RFU Management Board. Bill is currently RFU representative to the IRB and the Six Nations Committee, as well as serving on the RFU Council.
Andy Robinson – Coach
Born: 3rd April 1964 (Taunton, Somerset)
Playing
Position: Openside Flanker / No.7
Club: Bath
Country: England U23, England A
England: (8 caps)
Lions: 1989 (June/July), toured with the Lions to Australia playing in six matches but no tests scoring two tries against Queensland B in Cairns and NSW Country in Newcastle. 1989 (October), played in the Lions ‘unofficial test’ against France at the Parc des Princes to celebrate the Bicentennial of the French Revolution.
Coaching
Club: Bath (1997-2000)
National Team: 2000: May appointed England Coach, 2004: October appointed Head Coach England,
Lions: 2001: Assistant Coach to Graham Henry’s Lions Tour to Australia, 2004: Appointed Coach to Lions 2005 Tour
Eddie O’Sullivan – Coach
Born: 21st November 1958 (Youghal, County Cork)
Playing
Position: Wing / Fly-half
Clubs: Youghal / Garryowen / Munster
Country: Ireland B (1 cap)
Coaching
Club / Province: Blackrock College / Buccaneers RFC / Connacht
National Teams: 1995-1997 Ireland U21 Coach, 1997-1999 (after RWC ’99) US Eagles Assistant Coach plus National Technical Director USA Rugby, 1999: Assistant Coach Ireland, 2001: National Coach Ireland
Record: 2004: Triple Crown Winners, RBS Six Nations
Lions: 2004: Appointed Coach Lions New Zealand Tour
Phil Larder – Coach
Born: 20th March 1945 (Oldham, Lancashire)
Playing
Position: Rugby Union: Centre, Rugby League
Clubs: Rugby Union: Broughton Park (Manchester) / Sale Sharks, Rugby League: Oldham / Whitehaven
Coaching
Club: Rugby League: Widnes / Keighley / Sheffield, Rugby Union: Worked with Leicester Tigers during their four-year Premiership winning run (May 1999 through to May 2001) and when Leicester became the only club to win the Heineken Cup back-to-back (May 2001, May 2002).
National Team
Rugby League:
1985: Appointed Director of Coaching for Rugby League in England
1985-1992: Assistant Coach Great Britain Team
1995: England Rugby League World Cup
1996: Coach British Rugby League to New Zealand
Rugby Union:
1997-2000: appointed England Adviser on Defence (first appointment of its kind)
2000-present: Assistant England Coach
Lions: 2001: Defence Coach on 2001 Tour to Australia
2004: Appointed Coach on 2005 Tour to New Zealand
Ian McGeechan – Coach
Born: 30th October 1946 (Leeds, Yorkshire)
Playing
Position: Fly-Half / Centre
Clubs: Headingley
National Team: Scotland (32 caps)
Lions: 1974: Lions Tour to South Africa and Rhodesia making fourteen appearances (including all four tests as a centre) scoring a try against Eastern Transvaal in Springs and a drop goal in the 2nd test against the Springboks in Pretoria, 1977: Lions Tour to New Zealand and Fiji making 16 further appearances including all five tests against New Zealand (4) and Fiji, scoring three tries (two against Poverty Bay/East Coast in Gisborne and another versus North Auckland at Whangarei). Ian skippered the Lions twice on tour against Poverty Bay/East Coast and New Zealand Universities in Christchurch, 1977: made a further Lions appearance at Twickenham against the Barbarians in the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Match.
Coaching
Club: Northampton
National Team: 1987: Assistant Coach Scotland, 1988-1993: Scotland Coach, 1999-2003: Scotland Coach, 2003: Director of Rugby, Scotland Rugby Union
Record: 1989: 2-1 Lions series victory over Australia, 1990: Scotland Grand Slam, 1999: SF World Cup (defeated 9-6 by England), 1993: 1-2 New Zealand series victory over the Lions, 1997: 2-1 Lions series victory over South Africa, 1999: Scotland win Five Nations Title, Lions: 1989: Lions Coach to Australia, 1993: Lions Coach to New Zealand, 1997: Lions Coach to South Africa, 2004: Appointed Coach to Lions Tour to New Zealand
Gareth Jenkins – Coach
Born: 11th September 1951
Playing
Position: Flanker
Club: Llanelli
National Team: Wales B (1 cap as captain vs France Rouen 1975), 4 appearances for the Barbarians in 1976
Coaching
Club: Llanelli Scarlets (all records below)
Club Record: 1991-93 Won Welsh Cup three years in a row, 1997-98, 1999-00, 2002-03 Welsh Cup victories, 1992-93 League and cup double (only club to have done this), 1992-93 Won the League and Cup Double, 1998-99 & 2001-02 won league title, 2003 Celtic League Champions
National Team: 1992-3 to 1995 Assistant Coach Wales (to Alan Davies), 1994-95 Wales win Five Nations title
Lions: 2004: Appointed Coach to Lions Tour to New Zealand
Mike Ford – Coach
Born: 18th November 1965
Playing
Position: Scrum-half
Clubs: Wigan / Leigh / Castleford / South Queensland / Oldham (Rugby League), Retired in 2001 as player / coach of Oldham
Country: Great Britain (10 caps), Rugby League Tour British Lions Tour in 1988 to Papua New Guinea, New Zealand)
Coaching
Club: 2004: September appointed Saracens Defence & Skills Coach
National Team: 2002: January Appointed as Ireland’s Defensive Co-ordinator
Lions: 2004: Appointed Coach to Lions Tour to New Zealand 2005
John Feehan – British & Irish Lions Chief Executive
Born: 6th February 1963 (Dublin)
Biography: John played as tight-head prop for various teams including Dublin Trinity, Old Wesley, Leinster and for Irish Universities. John comes from a sales, marketing and commercial background working with a variety of multinationals including Unilever, Scottish & Newcastle and the Oakhill Group. Appointed Commercial Director in April 2002 to the British & Irish Lions and 6 Nations. John was appointed Acting CEO six months later and in February 2003 was appointed CEO.
Louise Ramsay – British & Irish Lions Team Manager
Born: 9th August 1968 (Luton)
Biography: Louise joined the England squad in 2001 after a ten year career working with the British Olympic Association with responsibility for both Winter and Summer Olympic teams, for which she was awarded an MBE. Louise was an integral member of the England RWC 2003 Management team and toured with England to Argentina in 2002 and to New Zealand and Australia in 2003.
Dave Alred – British & Irish Lions Specialist Coach
Born: 2nd April 1948 (London)
Biography: As a Kicking Specialist Dave started working with the English team in their build up to the 1995 Rugby World Cup. He joined the England set up in a part time capacity in 1997 and became full time in 2000. He was Kicking Coach on the British & Irish Lions Tour to Australia in 2001.
Dave Reddin – British & Irish Lions Fitness Coach
Biography: Dave has worked with the senior England squad since 1997 after two seasons with Leicester Tigers. His time with England also included work with the national U21 development team at the SANZA tournament in 1998. Responsible for the physical preparation of the England players and implementing their detailed training and dietary programmes.
Craig White – British & Irish Lions Fitness Coach
Born: 9th October 1971 (Wigan)
Biography: Having played rugby league at an amateur level, Craig began working as a Strength and Conditioning Coach in the late 1990s for a variety of clubs and individuals – including Waterloo RFC, the Irish Rugby Football Union and Bolton Wanders Football Club. He moved to London Wasps in 2002 to take up the post of Director of Fitness.
Tony Biscombe – British & Irish Lions Video Analyst
Born: 18th June 1945 (Leeds)
Biography: Prior to joining the RFU in 1989, Tony previously coached at Headingley, Roundhay & Morley but since 1997 has been the National Technical Support Manager for the RFU. With responsibility for managing the video analysis carried out for the entire elite England squad.
Gavin Scott – British & Irish Lions Video Analyst
Born: 1st September 1974 (Dundee)
Biography: Having played professional Rugby for Glasgow as a hooker from 1997, Gavin moved out of playing into video analysis when he retired from the playing side in 2001. He continued to work at the Club and in 2002 started working with the Scottish team. Gavin oversees a lot of the work that gets done with the Scottish professional sides.
James Robson – British & Irish Lions Head Doctor
Born: 24th November 1957 (Whitehaven)
Biography: This will be James’s fourth successive Lions tour having previously toured in 2001 to Australia, 1997 to South Africa and 1993 to New Zealand. Having initially qualified as a physio from Queen Margaret College in Edinburgh, he spent a further six years studying medicine at Dundee University. A former Edinburgh Wanderers player (1979-1981) James first became involved with the Scottish national teams as a physio on the 1991 tour to Canada. He has become increasingly involved in Scottish Rugby and is now in the position of Team Doctor. When not involved with the Scottish Team he is a practicing GP in Dundee.
Gary O’Driscoll – British & Irish Lions Doctor
Born: 27th October 1969 (Manchester)
Biography: Having qualified as a Doctor from London’s Imperial University College Gary became involved with the London Irish team in 1997. In 1999 became the Ireland U21 Doctor, looking after them on three U21 World Cups in South Africa (2000), Australia (2001) and England (2002). He moved over to the senior team Irish team in 2002. He toured with the Irish team for the Rugby World Cup 2003. Gary not only has a close working relations with the team but also has close family ties within rugby as the second cousin of Ireland international Brian O’Driscoll. When not involved with the Irish Team he is a practicing GP in Manchester.
Phil Pask – British & Irish Lions Physiotherapist
Born: 14th March 1960 (Worksop)
Biography: Phil has had a close association with Northampton having played for the club at open side flanker in the late 1980s and then moving over to become Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Saints when the game turned professional. He was on board as Physio with the Club when they won the Heineken Cup on 2000. Over this time he has been involved at various levels of the England game – coming on board in 1989 with the England Schools through to working with the England elite squad in 1997. When he is not involved with the England Management he runs a private practice in the Midlands.
Rob Stewart – British & Irish Lions Physiotherapist / Masseur
Born: 4th November 1973 (Paisley)
Biography: After qualifying as a Physio he went to work in Wellington, New Zealand in private practice. On return to the UK he joined the SRU at the end of 1998. He toured with Scotland to South Africa in 1999 and since 2000 has been on every Tour that Scotland have been involved in, including the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia. When not with the Scottish National team Bob works with the Glasgow Rugby.
Stuart Barton – British & Irish Lions Physiotherapist / Masseur
Born: 28th November 1970 (Galashiels)
Biography: Having qualified Stuart worked in Canada in private practise prior to joining the Scottish Rugby Union. His first tour of duty was in 1998 and he has been in charge at two Rugby World Cups. When not with the national set up he works with Edinburgh Rugby.
Richard Wegrzyk – British & Irish Lions Masseur
Born: 19th April 1963 (Taplow)
Biography: Richard has been part of the England Management since his appointment in 1992. He has amassed over a 100 test matches as the team masseur. When not involved with the England set up he runs his own London practice. This will be his third Lions Tour.
Dave Campbell – British & Irish Lions Chef
Born: 30th June 1971 (Glasgow)
Biography: He has worked closely over the years with Dave Reddin at England’s Training Camp at Penny Hill Park Hotel, Bagshot. He toured with England in 2002 to New Zealand and Australia. He has constantly worked with the England fitness / nutrition team and was part of the England Management set up for their successful Rugby World Cup campaign in 2003. He is the newly appointed Head Chef at Pennyhill Parks sister hotel, the Manor House Hotel near Bath.
Dave Tennison – British & Irish Lions Kit Technician
Born: 16th January 1960 (Bridlington)
Biography: After twenty years in the Royal Marines and a period as a fitness adviser to the Devon & Cornwall police force, Dave fulfilled a key role in England’s World Cup winning support team, having joined the RFU in September 2002 as their kit technician.
Louisa Cheetham – British & Irish Lions Media Liaison
Born: 24th April 1972 (Stamford, USA)
Biography: Louisa has worked in both the domestic and international rugby world for over five years. From a sports agency background, Louisa has worked with a wide range of companies within rugby including Teachers, Nike, Zurich & Powergen across properties such as the English Premiership, the British & Irish Lions in 2001 and the Rugby World Cup 2003.
David McHugh – British & Irish Lions Specialist Adviser
Born: 21st December 1955 (Limerick)
Biography: Began refereeing in 1984 and made his refereeing Test debut on September 17 1994. A former scrumhalf with Aer Lingus, Highfield and Ballincollig, McHugh made his Rugby World Cup refereeing debut a year later when he took charge of South Africa’s 20-0 defeat of Canada in Port Elizabeth. He officiated at Rugby World Cup 1999, refereed the inaugural European Cup final in 1996 between Toulouse and Cardiff, and then became the first to control two finals with the 2001 showdown between Leicester and Stade Francais. He retired from the international game after the 2004 RBS Six Nations with 29 tests to his name. Still living in Cork, David is working for the IRFU as Referee Development officer with a remit for the coaching and development of referees in Ireland.
Richard Smith – British & Irish Lions Legal Support
Born: 29th November 1963 (Worcester)
Biography: Richard was called to the Bar in 1986, appointed Queens Council in 2001. Has provided legal support for the England Rugby Team since 2003, which included attending the Rugby World Cup.
