Page 49 - Official Preview - DHL New Zealand Lions Series 2017

Sam Warburton (left) and Stuart Hogg arrive at Hong Kong airport ahead of the 2013 Lions series HERE’S A A RIDDLE: WHAT’S
Irish and is is responsible for linking nearly 40 rugby players up up to to 30 support staff and and some 20 tonnes of luggage and and and equipment – and and and getting them all in in the the the the the same same place at the the the the the same same time on the the the the the opposite side of the the the the the world?
Gerard Carmody probably isn’t a a a a a a a a a name familiar familiar to most New Zealand rugby fans but his is is a a a a a a a a a a a a a a familiar familiar face at at passport control at at airports all over the country The Irishman has spent so so much time south of of the the equator in the the last couple of of years he he he could just about apply for residency Carmody is is is Director of Operations for for the 2017 British & Irish Lions and and has been to to to New Zealand four times already to to to put things in in in place for the six-week tour that starts in in in in Whangarei on on 3 June This is is no ordinary tour – the the Lions will have upwards of 70 people on on the the trip including players management coaches and and admin people and and the whole pride
will have to be moved every two or three days and and fed and and watered along the the the way Oh right – they have to to play the the the the All Blacks too in their their own backyard where the the the the hosts have won their their last 45 Test matches This is is big time and and as as the the the Lions won’t be back in New Zealand for 12 years they they want to to do it properly The Lions know they’ll have to to to to be on on top top of their game to to to to to topple the the the world champions and are leaving no stone unturned to to make sure they arrive in in the the “Players need to focus on rugby and their their own needs so we plan their their days so they don’t have to worry about it ”
N 50 000 KM
Distance travelled by the Lions by plane and bus on the tour best possible shape That’s where Carmody on on on secondment from the Irish Rugby Football Union and his colleague Gemma Crowley another expert in in team services comes in in in Carmody is is the the the the man who oils the the the wheels of the the the trip organising trains planes and automobiles gyms training facilities internet access tickets for for families and most importantly food for for the the team This is is one big beast to feed Luckily he he he has been on on on the the case since his his rst trip to New Zealand in in in Lions uniform in in in in June 2015 with his his fourth recce completed in in January On that last trip with Head Coach Warren Gatland and and some of the support staff Carmody visited every hotel gym and and training paddock the Lions will will be using and and travelled to to them the the the same way the the the tour party will will If that meant taking a a a a a a a a a a a bus from Rotorua to to Hamilton as the the team will do in in June then that’s what he he he did If it meant taking a a a a a a a a a bus to to a a a a a a a a a training ground he made that journey too Carmody’s job is to to examine every minute detail “When I I look look at a a a a a a a training venue for example the rst thing I I look look at at at is location you don’t want to to be on on on on buses for too long ”
he he he says “What’s the the traf c c like at at certain times in in in in the the day? Then when we get to the the the the training venue the the the the most important thing is the the the the pitch surface ensuring the the the dimensions are correct and making sure it it replicates
the pitch we’re going to be playing on LOGISTICS
Ben Youngs (right) and Owen Farrell (left) arrive at Perth airport on on the 2013 Lions tour NEW ZEALAND UNIVERSITIES 11 WELLINGTON 20 MARLBOROUGH NELSON GOLDEN TARANAKI 9 LIONS LIONS LIONS LIONS 24 LIONS LIONS LIONS LIONS 6 BAY & MOTUEKA 14 LIONS LIONS LIONS LIONS 12 LIONS 22
DHL NEW ZEALAND LIONS LIONS SERIES 2017 // 49