Confirmed: Ireland manager Andy Farrell will lead Lions to Australia in 2025

The former England dual-code international’s appointment was no surprise, with his outstanding track record since taking over from Joe Schmidt making him an outstanding candidate.

Farrell is contracted to the IRFU until the 2027 World Cup, but will take time off from his day job in December to begin preparations for the tour Down Under, where he will face heavily chipped old boss Schmidt. . He will be the next Wallabies coach.

Simon Easterby is a favorite to step up for the 2025 Six Nations, while fellow assistant and former Lions captain Paul O’Connell is also expected to be part of Farrell’s Lions backroom team.

This is not his first experience with the famous touring team, having assisted Warren Gatland in the Lions’ series win in Australia in 2013 and draw in New Zealand in 2017.

The IRFU blocked him from taking part in the 2021 tour of South Africa, but this time it did not get in the way. Chief executive Kevin Potts and performance director David Nucifora have endorsed his candidacy in recent months, with Mr Gatland also putting his stamp on it. He was approved to lead the Lions on three consecutive tours.

Farrell will start the 2025 tour against Argentina at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, before the Lions embark on a mission to Australia, where they will play a mixed selection, Super Rugby side from New Zealand and Australia, before facing the Wallabies. I’m planning to play against. Three test series.

He will be formally announced at a press conference in London this afternoon, where he will elaborate on his plans.

One of the big topics will be the status of Farrell’s son Owen, who is expected to take a break from international rugby and join Racing 92 next season.

The former England captain would be a strong candidate to captain the touring side if he was available and would be the first father and son to do so since the 2027 Lions tour, when Farrell Jr. started all three Tests. This will be the first time they have worked together, but his move abroad and plans to stay away from the Test arena for a period of time for mental health reasons could complicate the scenario.