Farrell will start in his role in December 2024 and will work solely with the Lions until the conclusion of the 2025 tour. He will confirm his full British & Irish Lions coaching team in due course.
Having played a key role as defence coach under Gatland for the 2013 Series win in Australia and in the drawn Series in New Zealand in 2017, the former England dual code international takes over the top job for the first time.
The panel that selected the Head Coach was chaired by Ben Calveley, British & Irish Lions CEO, and consisted of Ieuan Evans, British & Irish Lions Chairperson, along with former British & Irish Lions players Brian O’Driscoll, Sir Ian McGeechan, and Nigel Redman.
Named the 2023 World Rugby Coach of the Year, Farrell has been part of the Irish coaching set-up since 2016 having worked as defence coach under Joe Schmidt before being named as Head Coach after the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
As defence coach, Farrell was a part of Ireland’s first-ever series win in Australia during the 2018 summer Tour. During his tenure as Head Coach, he has guided Ireland to two triple crowns in 2022 and 2023, the Six Nations Grand Slam in 2023 and led the team to number one in the World Rugby rankings.
Under him, Ireland also recorded a famous first series win against New Zealand in the summer of 2022, four months before overseeing a win over Australia in Dublin.
Before his role with Ireland, Farrell served as England assistant coach from 2012 to 2015 under Stuart Lancaster and was also involved in the Saracens coaching set-up from 2010 to 2012. As a player, Farrell earned 34 caps for Great Britain and 11 for England in rugby league, including the 1995 and 2000 World Cups, and eight for England in rugby union, including the 2007 World Cup.
The recent formation of a historic partnership between The British & Irish Lions, Premiership Rugby, and the United Rugby Championship will enable all selected British & Irish Lions players to be available for all pre-Tour activities including the pre-Tour fixture against Argentina in Dublin, further enhancing the Lions chances of success in Australia.
Farrell succeeds previous Head Coach Warren Gatland, who coached the Lions on three consecutive Tours, guiding the Lions to a Series victory against Australia in 2013 and a drawn Series with New Zealand in 2017 before narrowly losing to South Africa during the 2021 Tour.
“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 2013 and 2017, so I’m delighted to get the chance to lead the team in 2025,” said Farrell.
“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. I also want to thank the Irish Rugby Football Union for their support in allowing me to accept this prestigious opportunity.”
The 2-1 series victory by the Lions on their last trip to Australia, with Sam Warburton as captain, was their first triumph since South Africa in 1997. They then drew the series in New Zealand four years later before going down 2-1 in South Africa in 2021.
“Andy Farrell’s appointment marks a fantastic chapter for the Lions as we build towards the 2025 Tour in Australia. 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,” said Lions chair, Ieuan Evans.
“British & Irish Lions tours are unique in the world of sport and Australia is always a very special place to play rugby. It is home to some of the most iconic stadiums in the world which will be packed full of passionate fans.”
