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Ex-Wales skipper Ieuan Evans succeeds Jason Leonard in Lions role
By PA
Former Wales captain Ieuan Evans will succeed Jason Leonard as chair of the British and Irish Lions board. Evans, 58, takes up the post on October 1, the Lions announced on Wednesday.
Evans played in seven Lions Tests across three tours - Australia (1989), New Zealand (1993) and South Africa (1997) - and won 72 Wales caps, scoring 33 tries. He also skippered his country to the Five Nations Championship title in 1994.
“Having toured with the Lions at the peak of my international career, it is an honour to be appointed chairman of the British and Irish Lions board,” Evans said. “Lions tours are unique in the world of sport, both in terms of the ultimate challenge they represent and the cultural impact they have.”
Lions managing director Ben Calveley added: “I have no doubt Ieuan will lead the board in our mission to deliver rugby with purpose to players, fans, the game and communities we visit.
“I would also like to thank and pay tribute to Jason Leonard for his commitment and excellent term since being appointed in 2019.” The Lions’ next tour is to Australia in 2025.
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Latest Comments
But he chose rightly or wrongly to play for Tonga. If he wanted to play for the ABs why didn’t he hold off?
Go to comments“A succession of recent ex-players going straight back into the game as coaches in their early 40’s would prob be enough to kill it stone-dead. Innovation would die a death.”
Would it? I do think one of the major differences between rugby and most other sports - which we’ve been overlooking - is the degree to which players are expected to lead team meetings & analysis sessions and the like. Someone like Owen Farrell has basically been an assistant coach already for ten years - and he’s been so under a variety of different head coaches with different expectations and playing styles.
“The most interesting ppl I have met in the game have all coached well into their sixties and they value the time and opportunity they have had to reflect and therefore innovate in the game. That’s based on their ability to compare and contrast between multiple eras.”
I don’t doubt that that’s true. But having interesting insights doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be the best able to inspire a team, or the best at managing the backroom staff.
“Wayne Smith winning the WWC in his mid sixties three years ago prob means nothing to you but it meant a lot to him. It took him back to the roots of is own coaching journey.”
I don’t doubt that! But I don’t think coaches should be hired on the basis that it means a lot to them.
“The likes of Carlo Ancelotti and Wayne Bennett and Andy Reid all have a tale to tell. You should open your ears and listen to it!”
I agree! Never have I ever suggested otherwise!
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