LONDON (Reuters) - Gerald Davies has been appointed manager for the 2009 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa, Lions management said on Tuesday.

Davies, a Lion in 1968 and 1971, will lead the party against the newly crowned world champions.

Former Scotland international Andy Irvine, a three-times tourist with the Lions, has been appointed chairman of the Lions board and succeeds Bill Beaumont who stood down due to his international rugby board commitments.

(Reporting by Mitch Phillips, editing by Clare Lovell)