Eddie Jones' assistants to miss out on Lions Tour - report
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The British & Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland is expected to confirm his coaching staff next weekend as the Lions ramp up their preparations for the tour to South Africa.
According to a report by the Guardian, the staff is set to include no members of the England setup for the first time this century.
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The report goes on to suggest that Gatland is expected to appoint Gregor Townsend as his attack coach and is likely to stick by Steve Borthwick (forwards), Graham Rowntree (scrum) and Neil Jenkins (kicking) with an emphasis on continuity from previous tours.
His defence coach has been less clear but with Mitchell set to miss out suggesting that Ireland boss Andy Farrell is the favourite to reprise the role for a third straight tour.
While Borthwick, Rowntree and Farrell have previously been employed as England coaches, none of Gatland’s expected assistants is on Jones’s staff.