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British & Irish Lions
Schmidt linked to Lions role
ESPN Staff
August 26, 2012
Leinster coach Joe Schmidt, Leinster v Racing Metro, Heineken Cup, RDS, Dublin, Ireland, October 9, 2010
Joe Scmidt has led Leinster to two Heineken Cups © Getty Images
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Leinster head coach Joe Schmidt is being lined up for a role with the British & Irish Lions, according to reports.

Schmidt has led Leinster to back-to-back European Cups since joining the Irish province two years ago and helped them build a reputation as the most exciting and feared attacking side in Europe.

Wales head coach Warren Gatland is set to be unveiled as head coach for the Lions' tour of Australia next summer in early September and he is set to discuss who will be part of his coaching team with senior management in the next few days.

And Schmidt has already been mentioned as a potential member of that coaching team in informal discussions, according to the Rugby Paper. The Leinster head coach is reportedly a leading option as attack coach along with Rob Howley, who deputised Gatland on Wales' recent summer tour of Australia.

England forward coach Graham Rowntree is widely expected to be offered a role in the Lions' coaching team as is Wales defensive coach Shaun Edwards - both of whom were part of Sir Ian McGeechan's coaching team for the Lions' tour of South Africa in 2009.

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