2009 Lions Audio: Shaun Edwards And Rob Howley

Current London Wasps coach Shaun Edwards, who worked closely with Warren Gatland at Wasps, will link up with Gatland again as defence coach for the 2009 British & Irish Lions.

Edwards joined the Welsh Rugby Union as assistant coach (defence) in January of this year.

Edwards won 36 caps for the Great Britain rugby league side, scoring 16 tries and he played in the 1992 and 1995 World Cups with England.

He has also played professionally for Balmain Tigers in Australia, and both the London Broncos and Bradford Bulls.

In his interview, Edwards talks about fulfilling his long-time goal of being part of a British & Irish Lions management team.

The newly-appointed Lions defence coach discusses combining his role as Wasps supremo, working alongside Ian McGeechan, the effort that will go into preparing and bonding the touring squad and the approach to taking on the world champions South Africa.

Click here to listen to the interview in full.

Welshman Rob Howley has been confirmed as the backs coach for the 2009 British & Irish Lions squad.

The former international scrum half won 59 caps for Wales, scoring 10 tries.

He captained his country to 15 wins in 22 matches, including a run of 10 successive victories in 1999 and Wales’ only win against South Africa in 22 Tests between the countries.

He twice toured with the British & Irish Lions. Injury wrecked his dreams on the 1997 tour to South Africa after only five matches, while he played in the first two Tests in Australia in 2001 before injury once again took its toll.

Howley played for Bridgend, Cardiff and London Wasps, helping Wasps to win the Heineken Cup and the Premiership titles.

He is one of only eight Welsh players to have won a Heineken Cup winner’s medal.

Click here to listen to the interview in full.