The British and Irish Lions have revealed their complete coaching team for the upcoming tour of Australia, but to the dismay of many Welsh rugby fans, no coaches from the Wales set-up have been included. The coaching staff, led by head coach Andy Farrell, features names like England coach Richard Wigglesworth, Scotland forwards coach John Dalziel, and Ireland interim boss Simon Easterby.
Despite concerns over the inclusion of England coaches following their recent Six Nations performance, Wigglesworth found his way onto the coaching team after Farrell reached out to him post the Wales game. The Lions coaching line-up also includes Ireland’s Andrew Goodman and John Fogarty from Farrell’s previous reign with Ireland. This marks the first time since 2001 that the Lions coaching team does not feature any Welsh coaches.
Farrell expressed his excitement about the new coaching group, highlighting their versatility and experience. He emphasised the importance of understanding the challenges both on and off the pitch, hinting at a fresh perspective that these coaches bring to the team. The squad announcement is scheduled for Thursday, May 8, and the Lions will kick off their tour with a match against Argentina in Dublin before heading to Australia for a series of warm-up games and Tests.
As preparations ramp up for the Lions tour, fans eagerly await the official squad announcement and are hopeful that the coaching team will lead the players to success in Australia. Stay tuned for more updates on this highly anticipated tour as the Lions gear up to take on the Wallabies in what promises to be an exciting series of matches.