Sir Clive Woodward has finalised his coaching team for next summer's Lions tour to New Zealand with his acting England successor Andy Robinson and Saracens defensive coach Mike Ford featuring on the list of names due to be announced next month.

Woodward has selected two separate coaching units for the tour, one for the Test side and another for the midweek team, to try and ensure every member of the tour party enjoys the best possible preparation.

The weekend team will be under the command of Ireland's Eddie O'Sullivan who will be joined by Robinson and England's defensive coach Phil Larder, both of whom served under Graham Henry on the 2001 Lions tour to Australia.

The midweek combination will be headed by the most successful Lions coach of all time, Scotland's Ian McGeechan, with Llanelli's Gareth Jenkins and Ford also involved. Woodward, as head coach, will oversee both squads.

Few within rugby would dispute Woodward has chosen some of the sharpest coaching minds in the British Isles, although Robinson may still have to persuade the Rugby Football Union that it is in their best interests to release him instead of taking England's reserves on their North American tour.

Robinson sidestepped the subject when it was raised earlier this week but is clearly keen to team up with Woodward again following the latter's departure from the England coaching job last week.

Ford, a former rugby league player who joined Saracens this year having impressed alongside O'Sullivan with Ireland, is also highly rated by Larder while Jenkins is regarded as one of the best club coaches in Europe. Woodward plans to take 44 players and 26 back-up personnel to New Zealand.