Andy Farrell appointed head coach for British and Irish Lions tour of Australia

Andy Farrell will lead the British and Irish Lions on their 2025 tour to Australia after confirmation of his appointment as head coach.

Farrell will take charge of the Lions for the first time having served as an assistant under Warren Gatland on the 2013 and 2017 trips to Australia and New Zealand, respectively.

The 48-year-old Englishman succeeds Gatland having impressed during his four-year reign as Ireland head coach, masterminding a grand slam and a historic 2-1 series victory in New Zealand. Farrell will take a break from his role with Ireland from December 2024 until the conclusion of the Lions tour.

“It is a tremendous honour and a privilege to be named Head Coach of The British & Irish Lions,” he said. “I know how special Lions Tours are having been involved in the 2013 and 2017 Tours, so I am delighted to get the chance to lead the team in 2025.

“There is a wealth of talent across Britain and Ireland, and I am looking forward to building a team that can deliver the ultimate goal of success in Australia. I also want to thank the Irish Rugby Football Union for their support in allowing me to accept this prestigious opportunity.

“The British & Irish Lions fan base is really special, uniting supporters from England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and beyond. Mobilising that Sea of Red by creating a team that our fans can connect with and be proud of will be a key priority for me and will be crucial to our success.”

Ireland also topped the global rankings until being nudged into second place by South Africa, who were crowned back-to-back world champions last autumn.

While the World Cup proved a disappointment because of the quarter-final exit inflicted by the All Blacks, Farrell has shaped an outstanding side who should provide the largest number of players to his Lions squad.

The former dual code international missed the 2021 tour to South Africa because of his Ireland commitments, but he will lead the home unions against the Wallabies with the blessing of the Irish Rugby Football Union.

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When Farrell’s contract was extended to 2027 in December, the IRFU performance director, David Nucifora, said: “We’d be ecstatic if Andy was named coach of the Lions so hopefully that accolade is the next one for him.”

Farrell won eight caps as a centre in 2007 following his move from Wigan rugby league club and then moved into coaching, first with Saracens and then with England, serving as an assistant to Stuart Lancaster. He joined Ireland after the 2015 World Cup and succeeded Joe Schmidt as their head coach four years later.

He has yet to experience defeat with the Lions having helped clinch a 2-1 series victory over Australia in 2013 and drawn series with New Zealand in 2017.