Andy Farrell, head coach of the Lions, is set to make a surprising announcement today regarding his coaching assistants for the upcoming tour of Australia. Speculation suggests that there is a shock in store for the Lions team. Farrell will be revealing his coaching staff in London and will then proceed to finalise the squad selection with his team. The announcement is scheduled to be made public on May 8th in front of a live audience. Reports from The Telegraph indicate that Scotland’s John Dalziel is expected to be named as the forwards coach, surprising many in the rugby world.
Alongside Dalziel, Simon Easterby and Richard Wigglesworth are likely to secure key coaching roles within the Lions set-up. Easterby temporarily took on the role of Ireland’s head coach during this year’s Six Nations while Farrell focused on Lions preparations. As Easterby prepares to join Farrell for the tour Down Under, it is believed that Paul O’Connell will take over coaching duties for Ireland’s summer matches against Georgia and Portugal. England’s senior assistant coach Wigglesworth is also set to play a significant role with the Lions, as well as Ireland’s scrum coach John Fogarty.
Furthermore, it has been confirmed that Ireland’s strength and conditioning coach Aled Walters and former Ireland performance director David Nucifora will be part of the Lions coaching team. The squad for the Australia tour will be announced on May 8th, with the Lions scheduled to play Argentina in Dublin before heading to Perth for a clash against Western Force on June 28th. The tour will culminate in a three-Test series against Australia starting on July 19th in Brisbane, followed by matches in Melbourne and Sydney.
In a separate development, discussions are underway for the Lions to play against the Six Nations champions, France, for the first time in 40 years. This proposed match would take place before the men’s Lions tour to New Zealand in 2029 and would also feature in the inaugural women’s tour in 2027. Approval from the Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR), which represents France’s clubs, would be required to release top players for the fixture. The prestige of this match is expected to be a key factor in securing participation from the French clubs.
Additionally, Welsh flanker Tommy Reffell has signed a new contract with Leicester Tigers after reaching 25 caps during the recent Six Nations tournament. Reffell, a product of the Tigers’ youth system, has expressed his gratitude towards the club and aims to continue contributing on the field. Leicester Tigers general manager Richard Wilks commended Reffell’s progress over the years and looks forward to his continued presence in the team.
On a different note, Harlequins director of rugby Billy Millard is set to depart from the club at the end of the season. Millard, who played a key role in Harlequins’ 2021 Premiership title triumph, cited personal reasons for his decision to step down. Despite his impending departure, Millard remains focused on finishing the current season strongly with Harlequins currently placed fourth in the Premiership standings with six rounds remaining.
In conclusion, it is an eventful time in the world of rugby with coaching appointments, tour preparations, and potential landmark fixtures on the horizon for the Lions and international rugby teams. Stay tuned for more updates as the rugby season progresses.