8 Dec 2012

Lions assistants named

11:58 am on 8 December 2012

England assistant rugby coaches Graham Rowntree and Andy Farrell will assist British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland on next year's tour of Australia.

Rob Howley, who has stepped in as Wales' interim coach while regular Wales boss Gatland prepares for the tour, will also be part of the staff.

Rowntree and Howley worked on the 2009 tour of South Africa, but it will be Farrell's first Lions involvement.

The trio's individual areas of responsibility are yet to be confirmed.

The Lions will play the Barbarians in Hong Kong on June first before taking on the Western Force in their opening match in Australia four days later, while the first Test of the 10-match tour is on June 22nd in Brisbane.