Ireland boss Andy Farrell has been confirmed as the new coach of the British and Irish Lions for their tour for Australia in 2025.
Farrell was confirmed as the new coach ahead of next year’s tour, which will see him temporarily step away from his role as Ireland coach, after the 2024 Autumn Series.
He will then begin to work exclusively with the Lions on 1 December 2024, until the end of the tour, before returning to the Ireland set up in August 2025.
It is likely that Paul O’Connell or Simon Easterby will be placed in temporary charge of the Irish Rugby team in Farrell’s absence, including the Six Nations campaign for that year.
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“means the world to me”
Farrell will succeed Warren Gatland, who had taken charge of the last three tours in 2013, 2017 and 2021.
At a press conference, Andy Farrell said that he jumped at the chance at becoming the head coach of the Lions, having served under Warren Gatland as assistant coach for the 2013 and 2017 tours.
“It means the world to me,” he said.
“To be thought of as a candidate for the head coach role is pretty special, but to be chosen is pretty magical, it definitely is. Being on a couple of Lions tours already gives me the feel of what it’s all about, and for those who have been lucky enough to be involved before, or for those of us who have been lucky enough to go on Lions tours as a supporter, or support what the Lions stand for at home, we all know how special it is”.
“beyond words”
He continued, “For me to be chosen as the head coach is beyond words, to be honest. I have a lot of people to thank, Ieuan [B&I Lions chairperson Ieuan Evans] and Ben [B&I CEO Ben Calveley] and the board of the Lions, and obviously the selection committee, but also the IRFU. The support they have given me, Kevin Potts and David Nucifora, and everyone concerned with the IRFU have helped this dream come through”.
“We had a conversation a couple of months ago, myself and Ben, and he laid out all the different ramifications of what it involved to be involved, and he didn’t need to do that. It was a no-brainer, because it’s such an honour”.
Last October, following Ireland’s World Cup quarter final defeat to New Zealand, Johnny Sexton spoke about how much he enjoyed working under Farrell in the last two years.
See full report on that here.
