Ireland's Andy Farrell has been appointed as head coach for the British & Irish Lions' tour of Australia in 2025.
The 48-year-old - who recently extended his Ireland contract until 2027 - will begin working solely with the Lions in December and succeeds Warren Gatland, who took charge of the 2013, 2017 and 2021 tours.
Farrell worked as a defence coach under Gatland for the Lions' tour of Australia in 2013 and tour of New Zealand in 2017, after which he served as Ireland assistant for three years before being promoted to head coach in 2019.
Under Farrell's wing, Ireland clinched the Grand Slam and Triple Crown at the 2023 Six Nations Championships, prior to which he led the nation to their first-ever series win over New Zealand.
Farrell - who was also named World Rugby Coach of the Year for 2023 - expressed his pride at leading the Lions for their tour of Australia, telling the team's official website: "It is a tremendous honour and a privilege to be named Head Coach of The British & Irish Lions.
"I know how special Lions Tours are having been involved in the 2013 and 2017 Tours, so I am delighted to get the chance to lead the team in 2025. There is a wealth of talent across Britain and Ireland, and I am looking forward to building a team that can deliver the ultimate goal of success in Australia.
Leading the Lions into a new era...
— British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) January 11, 2024
Your #Lions2025 Head Coach: Andy Farrell.#Howden @CanterburyNZ
"I also want to thank the Irish Rugby Football Union for their support in allowing me to accept this prestigious opportunity. The British & Irish Lions fan base is really special, uniting supporters from England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and beyond. Mobilising that Sea of Red by creating a team that our fans can connect with and be proud of will be a key priority for me and will be crucial to our success."
British & Irish Lions CEO Ben Calveley added: "We are delighted to announce Andy Farrell as Head Coach of The British & Irish Lions for the Tour to Australia in 2025.
"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 British & Irish Lions make him an outstanding candidate for this role.
"Andy is an excellent appointment for us and one which we believe will excite players and fans alike. It is clear to see that Andy has built a very strong connection between the Irish team and its fans and we are relishing a similarly strong connection being created with Lions fans in 2025. We firmly believe his appointment puts us in a great position to achieve success on the field and I'm looking forward to working alongside him as we build towards the Tour."
The Lions' 2025 tour will see Farrell debut as head coach against Argentina in a warm-up on June 20, before meetings with Western Force, Queensland Reds, New South Wales Waratahs, ACT Brumbies and a combined Australia-New Zealand XV.
Between July 19 and August 2, the Lions will engage in a three-match test series with Australia, and a meeting with Melbourne Rebels is pencilled in for July 22 in between the first and second tests.
Ben Knapton
