Rugby 7s guru Ben Ryan could join Lions coaching staff

Fiji 7s guru Ben Ryan, who led the country to their first ever Olympic gold medal, will be joining the 15s format with the island side in England. Photo / Photosport

Ben Ryan, the Englishman who guided Fiji to their Sevens gold medal at the Rio Olympics, is thought to be under consideration for a place in the British and Irish Lions coaching team.

Warren Gatland, the Lions head coach, is thought to be considering making an appointment from outside of the four home unions coaching set-ups as he looks to bolster his side with a second backs or attack coach.

Ryan has received wide plaudits for turning Fiji into the most dangerous attacking side in world sevens, that culminated in their Olympic final victory over Great Britain.

Gatland will on Wednesday confirm that his three main coaching assistants with be Steve Borthwick (England forwards coach), Andy Farrell (Ireland defence coach) and Rob Howley, his backs coach at Wales.

However Gatland's plans to appoint another backs coach suffered a setback when Gregor Townsend, the Glasgow head coach who is due to replace Vern Cotter as Scotland coach at the end of the season, turned down the offer to join the Lions set-up.

Gatland had also been previously considering a position for Joe Schmidt, the Ireland head coach, before he also ruled himself out.

Townsend's decision has ensured that Gatland will not be in a position to announce his full coaching team at the official announcement at Carton House hotel near Dublin at lunchtime on Wednesday.

Ryan, who is keen for a return to 15-a-side coaching after a hugely successful stint with the Fiji Sevens side, is understood to be under consideration for the role but Gatland may also look to strengthen another area of his coaching team.

Jason O'Halloran, the Scotland back coach and fellow New Zealander, is another Gatland may turn to having made a significant impact on Scotland's back play since joining Cotter's coaching team last season.

Will Greenwood, the former England and Lions centre and Telegraph columnist, is not understood to have been approached, despite suggestions otherwise.

Also out of the running is Stuart Lancaster, the former England head coach, who is currently a senior coach at Irish province Leinster. Lancaster however has already been linked with the upcoming vacancy at Connacht created by the departure of Pat Lam to Bristol next season.