Wales legend Davies named as manager

2009 Lions Tour to South Africa:The Lions Committee have appointed Welsh legend Gerald Davies as manager of the 2009 touring team and have named former Scotland international and three-times Lions tourist Andy Irvine as chairman, following the decision of former chairman, Bill Beaumont, to concentrate on his International Rugby Board (IRB) commitments.

The Lions have somewhat pointedly not chosen the coach yet, which means Irish coach Eddie O'Sullivan will have to wait until after the 2008 Six Nations Championship to see if his candidacy meets with Lions approval.

O'Sullivan negotiated a clause in his agreement with the IRFU that if he was to be handed the Lions coaching job, he could take a sabbatical from his contract with Ireland to lead the combined team to South Africa. The dates for the summer tour have not yet been finalised.

O'Sullivan has long been a favourite for the position but following Ireland's poor performance at the World Cup in France last September, there has been all sorts of speculation while the IRFU conduct an internal investigation into the failure of the squad to perform.

However, chief executive of the Lions, John Feehan, said that the candidate to lead the tour would not necessarily be one of the current coaches from the four Home Unions.

"The selection of the coach won't be until after the Six Nations," said Feehan. "We will make the appointment then because it gives candidates the chance to show what they can do between now and then. The Lions committee will decide who coaches the tour."

The decision to appoint Davies as manager is likely to be met with positive approval. The Welshman has established himself as an affable and patient individual and generous with his time.

"I'm extraordinarily privileged to be named tour manager," said Davies, who works as a rugby writer for the London Times.

"I hope I can fulfil the task put upon me. I'm determined it will be a hugely successful tour. Lions tours are unforgettable experiences. This is a great privilege bestowed upon me and I hope I can do a suitable job.

"Some people have said that in the professional era the Lions are an anachronism," he added. "But with the TV and commercial rights, up to 30,000 travelling fans in New Zealand and as many as 50,000 in South Africa, I say if that is an anachronism then let's have more of them."

Martin Johnson, who captained the Lions to their series victory 10 years ago, agreed that the combined team continues to hold its special status.

"That 1997 tour was the best experience of my rugby career," said Johnson, who also led England to World Cup triumph in 2003.

"For the next team to be facing the world champions will make it one of the greatest and most exciting tours of the modern era."

Feehan added that although the 2009 itinerary had been just about settled he would not reveal any details.

It is expected to take place from the end of May to the first week of July but he said that unlike in 2005, when the Lions drew with Argentina, there would be no pre-departure warm-up game.

"It was too tough a Test for a scratch group of players," he said of the 25-25 draw secured by Jonny Wilkinson's last-minute penalty.

"It also split the squad straight away to some extent and affected the process of assimilation that is an important part of the start of a Lions tour."

The HSBC bank has been unveiled as the principal sponsors of the South African tour after they signed a deal worth $8.2 million (€5.6 million)