McGeechan leads Lions contenders

McGeechan (left) and Edwards have enjoyed success at Wasps

The coach for next year's British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa will be confirmed in London on 14 May.

Wasps rugby director Ian McGeechan, who has coached on four Lions trips, is hot favourite to land the coveted role.

He led them in Australia (1989), New Zealand (1993) and South Africa (1997), winning two of the three-Test series.

The Scot, 61, also coached the midweek side on the 2005 trip to New Zealand. As a player, he was a Lions tourist in 1974 and 1977.

The Lions have 10 matches scheduled in South Africa, including Tests against the Springboks in Durban, Pretoria and Johannesburg between 20 June and 4 July.

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Other fixtures include appointments with the Emerging Springboks, Western Province and the Sharks.

The tour opens on 30 May against a Highveld XV in Rustenburg.

If McGeechan's appointment is confirmed, his assistants could include current Wasps coach Shaun Edwards and Cardiff Blues chief David Young.

Edwards aided Warren Gatland in plotting Wales' Six Nations title success and Grand Slam this season.

Former Lions prop Young would head to South Africa as forwards specialist.