Thursday brought confirmation that Andy Farrell will lead the Lions on their 2025 tour of Australia as head coach.
The Ireland head coach was confirmed in the role early on Thursday morning, after much media speculation that he would step into the role filled by Warren Gatland on the previous three tours.
Farrell has previously served as an assistant coach on two Lions tours, working as defence coach in Australia in 2013, and again in New Zealand in 2017.
1 July 2017; Conor Murray, right, and defence coach Andy Farrell of the British & Irish Lions following the Second Test match between New Zealand All Blacks and the British & Irish Lions at Westpac Stadium in Wellington, New Zealand. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
In his time as Ireland's head coach, Farrell has overseen a Grand Slam victory in 2023, as well as a first-ever three-test series win for a northern hemisphere country on New Zealand soil.
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Andy Farrell confirmed as Lions coach for 2025
Andy Farrell's appointment is the first time since 1980 that the coach of the Irish national team has taken charge of the Lions.
Farrell is set to start full-time work with the Lions in December of this year, meaning he will continue to coach Ireland in the autumn internationals - but will be missing for next year's Six Nations.
"It's pretty magical" 🙌
Andy Farrell reacts to being named as the next head coach of the British and Irish Lions for their 2025 tour to Australia 🏉 pic.twitter.com/dwMsSC1ybM— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) January 11, 2024
Speaking at a press event in London after he was announced as the 2025 head coach, Farrell said that he was determined not to let a dream job get in the way of his ongoing work with Ireland, as a new World Cup cycle begins:
It means the world to me. To be thought of as a candidate for the head coach's role is pretty special but to be chosen is pretty magical.
Being on a couple of Lions tours already gives me the feel of what it's all about.
For me to be chosen as the head coach is beyond words, to be honest.
The support that the IRFU have given me, Kevin Potts and David Nucifora and everyone concerned with the IRFU have helped this dream come true.
I'll balance the two roles by making sure I give both roles the right attention that both roles deserve. I wouldn't take on this role unless I could do both roles to the best of my ability.
Therefore, I'm very grateful to the IRFU for this opportunity.
Confirmation is yet to arrive, though the expectation is that Simon Easterby will step up as interim Ireland head coach in Farrell's absence during the 2025 Six Nations.
It is especially fitting that the Ireland head coach will be taking charge of the Lions next year, as they will open their tour with a send-off game in the Aviva Stadium against Argentina - the first time the Lions will ever play on Irish soil.
There is plenty of time still to go before the Lions tour gets underway, with the first game against Argentina pencilled in for June 20th 2025. The three tests against Australia will take place on July 19th (Brisbane), 26th (Melbourne), and August 2nd (Sydney).
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