/ 8 June 2009

Neil Jenkins hired as Lions kicking coach

Former Wales flyhalf Neil Jenkins is back to hurt South Africa again, this time as kicking coach for the British and Irish Lions.

Former Wales flyhalf Neil Jenkins is back to hurt South Africa again, this time as kicking coach for the British and Irish Lions.

Jenkins’ success with the boot helped the underdog Lions beat the world champion Springboks on the 1997 tour.

When the 2009 Lions discovered he was available at the conclusion of Wales’ tour of North America, they decided to recruit him to help out Ian McGeechan’s coaching team of Warren Gatland, Rob Howley and Shaun Edwards.

”We found out that Neil is going to be in South Africa during the latter stages of the tour,” Lions tour manager Gerald Davies said on Monday.

”Therefore, the coaching staff thought it would be a good idea to ask him to become involved with the squad as kicking coach when he was here. He is Wales’ kicking coach and the former world record points-holder.”

McGeechan said he initially didn’t appoint a kicking coach because Howley and Edwards already had that sort of experience.

”However, when someone of Neil’s ability is available and on hand, it would be foolish not to take advantage of it,” McGeechan said.

”If anyone knows about what is required in terms of general kicking and goal kicking in South Africa, it is Neil. It was his all-round kicking game that helped the Lions to victory in the 1997 test series out here against the then world champions.”

Jenkins will join the tour on Thursday after the fourth tour match on Wednesday against the Sharks in Durban and before Saturday’s game against Western Province in Cape Town.

”It is a great honour to be part of a British and Irish Lions tour and I am delighted and grateful to have been offered this fantastic opportunity,” Jenkins said. ”I am extremely lucky in that I have just completed a great tour of Canada and the USA with Wales, so I am now free to devote all my attention to the Lions.

”I have clear ideas of what I would like to contribute and I know so many of the players, coaches and backup team that I will be able to get out onto the training pitch and get started as soon as I arrive.” — Sapa, AP