Rugby-Farrell appointed Lions coach for Australia tour

Farrell, father of England captain Owen, was an assistant to Warren Gatland on the 2013 and 2017 tours of Australia and New Zealand, though he made himself unavailable for the 2021 South Africa tour. Farrell, 48, became Ireland head coach in 2019, leading them to a first series win in New Zealand and to a Six Nations Grand Slam last year.

Ireland coach Andy Farrell was named as coach of the British and Irish Lions on Thursday for their tour of Australia in 2025. Farrell, father of England captain Owen, was an assistant to Warren Gatland on the 2013 and 2017 tours of Australia and New Zealand, though he made himself unavailable for the 2021 South Africa tour.

Farrell, 48, became Ireland head coach in 2019, leading them to a first series win in New Zealand and to a Six Nations Grand Slam last year. He previously spent four years as assistant coach with England. His contract was extended to 2027 in December, when the Irish Rugby Football Union said they would be "ecstatic" if he was given the Lions job and would discuss how much time he would need away from the Ireland role.

The former Wigan and Britain rugby league star also played for the England union team, including at the 2007 Rugby World Cup. He is the first Ireland coach to lead the Lions since Noel Murphy on the 1980 tour of South Africa and the first Englishman since Clive Woodward in 2005 in New Zealand.