Andy Farrell, the British and Irish Lions head coach, is gearing up to announce his coaching staff ahead of this summer’s tour of Australia. The Lions boss is expected to reveal his final squad for the tour on May 8, but first, he must finalize his coaching team for the journey Down Under. While some key appointments have already been made, such as Aled Walters, David Nucifora, and Vinny Hammond in various roles, there are still significant positions to be filled.
Reports suggest that Farrell is likely to have an Irish-dominated coaching staff for this year’s tour, with Welsh and English coaches facing potential snubs. Simon Easterby, who has been filling in as interim head coach for Ireland, is expected to join the Lions coaching team. Despite earlier links to the Wales head coach position, Easterby seems set to travel to Australia with the Lions. His specific role on the tour is yet to be confirmed, given his experience as both a defence and forwards coach.
Andrew Goodman, the Ireland backs coach, is believed to be taking charge of the Lions’ attack, while Irish scrum coach John Fogerty is also expected to be involved. Meanwhile, despite speculation, former Lions captain Paul O’Connell appears likely to decline a coaching role on the tour. It is reported that Johnny Sexton, the ex-Ireland captain and fly-half, could step in for Goodman in the Irish set-up over the summer.
There is potential for Scotland’s defence coach, Steve Tandy, and Welshman, to join the coaching staff this year, depending on Easterby’s responsibilities. Shaun Edwards, who expressed his eagerness to be part of the tour, is facing exclusion as France is not willing to release him due to their summer tour of New Zealand. This means there will be no assistant coaches from England or Wales on the tour, despite previous speculation surrounding Adam Jones.
The absence of Welsh representatives is not surprising following a disappointing Six Nations campaign, where Wales finished winless. The England camp, on the other hand, may feel aggrieved by the reported selection decisions, having shown improvements in their scrum and attack under certain coaching staff this past season. It is common for Lions coaches to opt for familiarity when selecting their staff, as seen in previous tours.
As Farrell prepares to unveil his coaching team next week, rugby fans are eager to see the final line-up and how the coaching dynamics will play out during the highly-anticipated tour. The British & Irish Lions tour of Australia promises to be an exciting and competitive event, and the coaching staff will play a crucial role in preparing and guiding the team towards success. Stay tuned for more updates as the Lions coaching staff announcement approaches and the tour draws nearer.