Gatland adds Dragons to his backroom set-up

TWO more members of Wales’ setup have been added to the Lions back-room staff for this summer’s tour of New Zealand.

Fitness coach Paul Stridgeon and analyst Rhodri Bown will join head coach Warren Gatland and attack coach Rob Howley for the 10-match trip, with Neil Jenkins also expected to be drafted on board as kicking coach.

Englishman Stridgeon, nicknamed Bobby, is still Wales’ consultant head of physical performance, but has not been involved since last year’s Six Nations, because of club commitments with his primary employer Toulon.

In his absence, former Ospreys and Wales hooker Huw Bennett is acting as interim fitness chief.

Stridgeon will be touring with the Lions for a third time, having been involved in 2009 in South Africa and for the successful series win in Australia in 2013.

A former Commonwealth Games wrestler, his title on the trip to New Zealand will be head of strength and conditioning.

He previously worked with Warren Gatland at Wasps, helping to secure two Heineken Cups, three Premiership titles, a European Challenge Cup and Powergen Cup.

Bown joined the WRU in 2004 and was appointed to his current role as WRU head of performance analysis in 2016.

He leads the three-man strong national squad analysis team and has been part of a Wales set-up that have won four Six Nations titles, including three Grand Slams.

Like Stridgeon, he toured with the Lions to South Africa in 2009 and to Australia in 2013 and now takes on the role of head analyst.

It has also been announced that Eanna Falvey, of Ireland, will be head of medical for the trip to New Zealand.