Andy Farrell named British & Irish Lions coach for 2025 tour of Australia | EUROtoday

Andy Farrell declared it a “tremendous honour and privilege” to be unveiled as the brand new British and Irish Lions head coach for the invitational facet’s tour of Australia in 2025.

Farrell, who has been Ireland head coach since 2019, will start his new position in December of this yr and is to verify his wider Lions backroom employees “in due course”.

The 48-year-old, anointed as World Rugby’s coach of the yr for 2023, has been concerned in two earlier Lions excursions, overseeing defence on the journeys to Australia in 2013 and to New Zealand 4 years later.

“It is a tremendous honour and a privilege to be named head coach of the British and Irish Lions,” stated Farrell, who succeeds Warren Gatland. “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.”

Lions announcement and press convention: As it occurred