It has been a solid day of business for the IRFU, after nailing down Andy Farrell as Ireland head coach until 2027.
After a season-and-a-half bedding in period, Farrell's side suddenly clicked at the end of the 2021 Six Nations, and the rise did not stop until the excruciating loss to New Zealand at the recent World Cup.
Regardless, those in charge believe Farrell to be the best man to take Ireland to the 2027 World Cup, after enjoying an immense period of sustained winning, including a series win in New Zealand and the 2023 Grand Slam.
IRFU Give Andy Farrell Their Blessing For Lions
In an earlier statement, IRFU high performance director, David Nucifora, waxed lyrical over Farrell's attributes as a coach and man manager:
I think Andy is an outstanding coach. His man management skills are second to none. His ability to get the best out of staff and players, the way he brings the group together, gets people on the same page but with the ability to constantly challenge people to improve and better themselves.
I think that skill set, he’s obviously got the rugby intellect but he also has the softer skills you need to be able to get the best out of people.
That’s not easy to find someone who has that all-round set of skills that you need at this level of the game. So we’re very fortunate to have him.
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17 June 2017; British & Irish Lions defence coach Andy Farrell during the match between the Maori All Blacks and the British & Irish Lions at Rotorua International Stadium in Rotorua, New Zealand. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Farrell has been touted as the favourite to lead the Lions on their 2025 tour of Australia, with his biggest perceived roadblock being permission from the IRFU.
Nucifora's comments on Farrell's potential as the Lions head coach make it seem unlikely that there will be anyone but the Englishman in charge.
"We’d be ecstatic if Andy was named coach of the Lions so hopefully that accolade is the next one for him and we’d be more than comfortable with how deal with it.
“As far as the period of time he might be away from us, that’s still something I think can be discussed if this happens.
"We’ve looked at the way we’ve gone about doing that and now Andy’s locked away we’ve got an opportunity to start working on the other guys (assistants).”
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