Randle brought into the Lions’ den

Former Chiefs and Waikato winger Roger Randle will greet the Lions when they come to New Zealand.

Randle will join Canterbury assistant coach Joe Maddock as right-hand men to Bay of Plenty head coach Clayton McMillan, who will take charge of the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians.

Warren Gatland’s Lions begin their 10-match tour in Whangarei on June 3 against a select provincial union team that will assemble one week prior to facing the tourists.

Randle, 42, gets this gig after coaching in New Zealand and Japan since retiring in 2006, and he’s been Waikato’s attack and backs coach since last year, as well as co-coach of the sevens team that were runnersup to Counties Manukau at the national tournament in January. kato sevens coach He’s also been influential in bringing former All Black Zac Guildford to Waikato through their respective affiliations with Hawke’s Bay.

In 2012, England head coach Eddie Jones (then with Japan) convinced Randle to work for Japan’s sevens programme building towards last year’s Rio Olympics.

After a 59-0 hiding to New Zealand in 2014, Randle helped turn Japan’s fortunes around dramatically, which culminated in a shock 14-12 win over New Zealand in Rio, before finishing fourth in the inaugural Olympic sevens tournament.

He, Maddock and McMillan will spend the next six weeks mulling over what players to pick ahead of naming a squad in April.

‘‘The history and culture of the New Zealand Barbarians is rich so it will be an honour for this group to be a part of that,’’ McMillan said in a statement.

‘‘Opening the Lions series against the best players from the northern hemisphere will no doubt be the biggest match of many of our players’ lives.’’

After facing the Provincial Barbarians, the Lions play all five Super Rugby teams, New Zealand Maori and three tests against the All Blacks.