Ireland boss Andy Farrell said being named Thursday the coach of the British and Irish Lions for the 2025 tour of Australia “means the world”.
Farrell will work solely with the combined side from December this year until the conclusion of the tour, meaning he would miss Ireland’s Six Nations campaign in 2025.
The 48-year-old former England dual-code international recently signed an extension to his contract as Ireland coach till the conclusion of the next World Cup in 2027.
Under Farrell’s stewardship, Ireland won a Six Nations Grand Slam last year, the Triple Crown in 2022 and secured a first ever series win in New Zealand.
Ireland also rose to number one in the world rankings before last year’s World Cup.
However, they again failed to make it beyond the quarter-finals of the showpiece event following an agonising loss to the All Blacks.
Farrell succeeds Warren Gatland, who has led the Lions on their last three tours to the southern hemisphere dating back to 2013.
Farrell was a member of Gatland’s coaching team for the 2013 series win over Australia and tied series with New Zealand in 2017.
A selection committee featuring Brian O’Driscoll, Ieuan Evans, Nigel Redman and Ian McGeechan spent six months weighing up their options before selecting Farrell.
“This means the world to me,” Farrell told a London news conference on Thursday to announce his appointment.
“To be chosen is pretty magical, it definitely is.
“It’s beyond words to be honest. Having been on a couple of tours already gives me the feel of what it’s about.”
The Lions are comprised of leading players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.
They traditionally tour one of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa every four years.
‘One of the best’
Lions chairman Evans, whose three tours as a player included the victorious 1989 series in Australia, welcomed Farrell’s appointment.
“Andy Farrell’s appointment marks a fantastic chapter for the Lions as we build towards the 2025 tour in Australia,” the former Wales wing said.
“We know the challenge we face in Australia won’t be easy and to have someone of his stature with the Lions puts us in a great position to replicate the success we enjoyed in 2013.”
Lions chief executive Ben Calveley said: “Andy is without question one of the best coaches in the world and knows what it takes to win a series in Australia given his involvement in the series win in 2013.
“His achievements with Ireland in recent years have been exceptional and his coaching experience at Test-match level with Ireland, England and the Lions make him an outstanding candidate for this role.”
Expectations will be high on Farrell to deliver a series win down under with Australian rugby in crisis.
Eddie Jones quit as the Wallabies coach after just two wins from nine Tests last year which included a group stage exit from the World Cup after defeats to Wales and Fiji.
But Farrell, the father of England’s Owen Farrell, could come up against his former boss Joe Schmidt with the Kiwi linked with taking charge of Australia.
Farrell served as Schmidt’s defence coach with Ireland before succeeding him in 2019.
