Hadden touted as possible Lions coach

SCOTTISH coach Frank Hadden is being suggested as a possible alternative or at least an ally to Eddie O’Sullivan as coach of the next Lions tour to South Africa in 2009.

Either way, Scotland’s back coach Alan Tait, a hero on the Lions tour to South Africa in 1997, wants Britain and Ireland to supply the coaching staff. “We needn’t have to look to the southern hemisphere to bring a northern hemisphere side down there,” he said.

Tait believes his boss is worthy of mention alongside Ireland’s O’Sullivan and emphasised: “I think he has helped put a lot of pride back in Scottish rugby, while Eddie has been to the forefront of everything good that Ireland have done in the last few years. I think it’s a good situation to have. Eddie is clearly the front-runner but I can’t see why Frank shouldn’t be in the frame.”