British & Irish Lions
John Spencer appointed 2017 Lions manager
ESPN Staff
July 31, 2014

Former England captain John Spencer has been appointed British & Irish Lions tour manager for 2017.

Spencer, 66, played 14 times for England and in 1971 was part of the only Lions team to win a series in New Zealand. He will become the third English Lions tour manager in rugby union's professional era, following Fran Cotton (South Africa, 1997) and Bill Beaumont (New Zealand, 2005).

"It is a huge privilege and honour to represent the Lions as tour manager, 46 years after I did so as a player," Spencer said. "My predecessor Andy Irvine did a fantastic job in Australia [2013], and I am looking forward to following in his footsteps."

The Lions' 2-1 Test series triumph in Australia was their first since defeating then-world champions South Africa in 1997. They last toured New Zealand nine years ago, when the squad headed by England's Rugby World Cup-winning supremo, Clive Woodward, were whitewashed 3-0.

© AAP

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