Warren Gatland: three times a Lion but a horse man through and through

Even an undisputed master of his craft can use a little help sometimes in the unrelenting world of international sport. Warren Gatland may have three Six Nations grand slams already in the bag and an upcoming third British and Irish Lions tour, but the modern game is all about science and the cross-pollination of ideas, so when a New Zealand-born Welsh rugby coach wants to talk sports ideology and team selection, it makes perfect sense that he'd turn to a Scottish racehorse trainer and her English husband.

Lucinda Russell probably doesn't claim to be a world authority on the oval ball game, but she and her other half Peter Scudamore know a thing or two about bringing finely tuned athletes to a peak for the big occasion. You'll remember One For Arthur landing the 2017 Grand National, but you may not know that his jockey Derek Fox – an Irishman, just to give us the full complement of home nations – was sent to the Welsh RFU for specialist physio work to help him be ready in time for this year's race.

The lines of communication are very much open between the two games and Gatland, as a racing-mad Kiwi, is keen to make the most of the association. Rugby has changed beyond belief since his playing days as hooker for Waikato back in his homeland, but despite his old-school demeanour and his matchless CV, he's not the type who'll pass up an opportunity to traverse borders between disciplines.