Report: Three key coaches pull out of British and Irish Lions Tour
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The British and Irish Lions could be facing a coaching crisis with a report by The Times suggesting that three key coaches have made themselves unavailable for the tour to South Africa.
Andy Farrell, Steve Borthwick and Graham Rowntree have all reportedly made themselves unavailable for the tour to the Republic, all for different reasons. There is some good news with Gregor Townsend still set to fill the attack coach role for Warren Gatland.
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It is reported that Borthwick has declared himself unavailable having received the touring schedule which conflicts with his club commitments at Leicester Tigers. The Lions schedule overlaps with the knockouts of the Premiership as well as three weeks of Leicester's pre-season, even more if he is required to quartine on his return from South Africa.
Rowntree is understood to have withdrawn due to family commitments while Andy Farrell was awaiting confirmation of Ireland's tour to the Pacific Islands which is set to go ahead.
John Mitchell and Shaun Edwards are seen as potential replacements for Farrell with Robin McBryde tipped to fill in for Rowntree while Borthwick's replacement is less clear.
Gatland is set to name his coaching staff on Tuesday
