The Lions will fly out to New Zealand next May with their largest ever contingent - 44 players and 26 support staff, including coaches, fitness experts, doctors, a referee and a QC. Sir Clive Woodward believes history has shown they are all required.

The Lions head coach insists that, even though the players will divide neatly into two match squads of 22 with the midweek team having their own coaching and medical staff, form will be the key to getting into the Test side.

His vision for the Lions is based on what he saw as the mistakes of the unsuccessful 2001 venture to Australia, when the midweek side were left unmonitored in training and told by the then coach Graham Henry - who will be in charge of the All Blacks next year - to look after themselves because he knew the Test side before he left London.

"If you look at the history of the Lions, tours have been successful when the midweek team has thrived," said Woodward. "A number of players returned home from Australia saying that they never wanted to tour with the Lions again because they did not enjoy the experience, and that was sad. I do not want any repeat of that, which is why I will make sure that full attention is paid to the Wednesday side and every player will be motivated."

Ireland's coach Eddie O'Sullivan will head the preparation of the Saturday side working alongside England's new coach Andy Robinson and the defensive coach Phil Larder, while the Scottish Rugby Union's director of rugby Ian McGeechan, a veteran of five Lions tours as a player and coach, will be in charge of the midweek team, working with Llanelli's Gareth Jenkins and the Ireland and Saracens defence coach Mike Ford.

Woodward will oversee both groups but he admitted that the bulk of his attention would be paid to the Saturday team, leaving McGeechan a virtually free rein to replicate what he achieved with the Lions in 1989 and 1997 when the spirited showings of his midweek sides in Australia and South Africa boosted morale and contributed to success in the Test series, unlike his mission to New Zealand in 1993, when the dirt-trackers collapsed ignominiously.

"It was a huge boost for us when Ian said he would tour," said Woodward. "With the strength of the coaching team for the Wednesday side, every player will be aware that he has a chance of making the Test team. Our aim is that just as the players should play in just one match a week, the same should apply to the coaches and the back-up staff."

All four home unions are represented on the management team, though the only Welshman among them is Jenkins, whose union has refused to release members of its national management team for the seven-week tour. Robinson, O'Sullivan, McGeechan and Jenkins are used to being in charge of teams, which raises the question of how they will react when they are on the losing side in a debate.

"There will be disagreements but that will be healthy," said O'Sullivan. "You do your arguing behind closed doors, with everyone accepting the decisions taken. It is a matter of sharing experience, knowledge and responsibility and I for one find the prospect exciting."

McGeechan also relished the exchange of ideas. "We have had some great discussions already," he said. "Everyone is free to put thoughts across and all the coaches have an open approach. The size of the party shows how we are moving forward; we thought we were pioneering in 1997, but no stone is being left unturned now."

Robinson and Larder were part of the 2001 tour, which Woodward is desperate not to replicate. "I learned a lot then," said Robinson. "I looked at myself afterwards and realised I had been too intense. This will be the biggest Lions tour there has ever been and the emphasis will be on enjoyment."

Jenkins' selection is some consolation after he failed to succeed Steve Hansen as the Wales coach this year. "I desperately wanted to coach Wales but that did not materialise. A Lions tour does not happen often and to be part of it is an experience inside an experience."

British and Irish Lions backroom team

Sir Clive Woodward

head coach

Bill Beaumont

tour manager

Andy Robinson

coach

Eddie O'Sullivan

coach

Phil Larder

coach

Ian McGeechan

coach

Gareth Jenkins

coach

Mike Ford

coach

John Feehan

chief executive

Louise Ramsay

team manager

Dave Alred

kicking coach

Dave Reddin

fitness coach

Craig White

fitness coach

David McHugh

advisory referee

Phil Pask

physiotherapist

Bob Stewart

physiotherapist/ masseur

Stuart Barton

physiotherapist/ masseur

Richard Wegrzyk

masseur

James Robson

head doctor

Gary O'Driscoll

doctor

Dave Campbell

chef

Dave Tennison

squad kit technician

Louisa Cheetham

media liaison

Richard Smith

legal support

Tony Biscombe

video analyst

Gavin Scott

video analyst