Farrell Names Coaching Staff for Lions Tour
Andy Farrell has revealed his coaching team for the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia this summer. Joining him are Simon Easterby, Andrew Goodman, and John Fogarty. With Farrell at the helm of the Lions, Paul O’Connell is likely to lead Ireland’s summer matches against Georgia and Portugal. Farrell Unveils Lions Coaching Team.
ICYMT: France Uncover Next Big Star
The coaching staff also includes Richard Wigglesworth and John Dalziel, creating a well-rounded group. While the specific roles of each coach haven’t been confirmed yet, it looks like Easterby will manage defense, Fogarty will take care of the scrum, Dalziel will oversee the forwards, and Goodman and Wigglesworth will focus on the attack.
Irish Influence in Coaching
The Lions’ coaching lineup has a strong Irish presence. Aled Walters, who heads athletic performance for Ireland, and Vinny Hammond, the head of analysis, were added to the team earlier this year. David Nucifora, the former performance director for the IRFU, is also involved.
Richard Wigglesworth, a former England scrum-half, brings a lot of coaching experience. He started coaching while he was still a player, serving as a kicking coach for Canada during the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Later, he was a player-coach at Leicester Tigers, helping them win the Premiership title in 2022. His coaching career took off when he became interim head coach for Leicester after Steve Borthwick went to England. He’s been part of England’s coaching team as an attack coach for the last two years.
John Dalziel, who coaches the forwards for Scotland, will manage the Lions’ pack. He has been an assistant to Gregor Townsend at Murrayfield since 2020 and has plenty of experience. Farrell Unveils Lions Coaching Team.
Farrell’s Thoughts on the Coaching Team
Farrell shared his excitement about bringing this coaching group together for such a prestigious tour.
Putting a Lions coaching team together is a real honor. Making those five calls to get this group of coaches reminds you how special it is, Farrell stated.
This group has versatility, which is a key asset for a Lions Tour. We have a great mix, and everyone will bring their own personality to the team.
Farrell is expected to announce his player lineup on Thursday, May 8. Farrell Unveils Lions Coaching Team.
Changes in Ireland’s Coaching Team
With several Irish coaches joining the Lions, the IRFU will have to reshape its own coaching setup for the summer Tests against Georgia and Portugal. Easterby, who acted as interim coach during the Six Nations and secured four wins out of five, probably won’t continue in that role. Instead, O’Connell is set to take over, with Johnny Sexton still playing a part.
To assist O’Connell, the IRFU might bring in more coaches for the summer. Mike Prendergast from Munster, Sean O’Brien from Leinster, and Mark Sexton from Connacht are all possible options, having recently helped Emerging Ireland in their match against England.
With Fogarty unavailable, Ireland will need someone to focus on the scrum. They could either recruit from a provincial team or lean on Seamus Toomey, the newly appointed performance pathway scrum coach, for help.
Upcoming Rugby Matches
Fans can catch Sharks vs. Leinster in the URC on Saturday at 4:45 PM on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
You can also follow a live blog of Italy vs. Ireland in the Women’s Six Nations on Sunday from 3:00 PM at rte.ie/sport and on the RTÉ News app.
And don’t miss Wales vs. England in the Women’s Six Nations on Saturday at 4:35 PM on RTÉ Player.
