Welshman officially joins British and Irish Lions set-up as Farrell welcomes trio to team
Welshman Aled Walters has been confirmed as part of Andy Farrell's British & Irish Lions backroom team for this summer's tour of Australia.
The World Cup winner has been appointed head of athletic performance for the Lions, having recently been in Australia this month to look at stadiums and training venues Down Under.
Walters, who hails from Llangadog, is now part of Ireland's backroom staff - having left his brief role with England last year after a lengthy and successful spell with South Africa.
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“The Lions is the absolute pinnacle and my earliest memory of them was watching the 1989 Australia Tour as an eight-year-old and celebrating Ieuan Evans’ try in the third Test," said Walters, who joins the Lions on secondment from the Irish Rugby Football Union.
“It is true that there is no greater honour than being selected for a Lions tour and I cannot wait to work with the very best players and coaches as we take on the Wallabies and tour Australia.”
Walters will join up with the Lions after the Six Nations, when Farrell will also confirm the rest of his backroom staff. Alongside Walters, David Nucifora and Vinny Hammond have also been appointed by the Lions.
Nucifora will act as general manager around performance, with the former Wallabies hooker currently holding a similar position at the Scottish Rugby Union, while analyst Hammond will return for his third Lions tour in the role of head of analysis.
“In David, Aled and Vinny we have three of the absolute best joining us for the Tour to Australia this summer, culminating in the highly anticipated Test series against the Wallabies," said Farrell about his appointments.
“David’s unrivalled experience will help us shape and deliver such a challenging and exciting rugby programme, whilst also bringing essential insight into Australian rugby and the country as a whole.
“Aled is a World Cup winner who has worked with players across England and Ireland and has also coached in Australia and Super Rugby with the Brumbies.
“And Vinny’s Lions pedigree from touring New Zealand and South Africa brings continuity and Lions experience, which will be crucial to success down under.”
Lions CEO Ben Calveley added: “It is my pleasure to welcome David, Aled and Vinny to the Lions.
“The excitement for this year’s Tour to Australia is really starting to build across both hemispheres and as Andy shapes his backroom team that will only intensify.
“These roles would also not be possible without the support of our colleagues at Scottish Rugby and the IRFU who have helped facilitate these appointments.”
