Gatland backs Ireland coach Farrell to lead the Lions to Australia

Warren Gatland has ruled himself out of coaching the British & Irish Lions in 2025, backing Andy Farrell to take the side to Australia instead.

Warren Gatland: ‘Andy Farrell would have my backing for the job.’ Picture: AFP

Warren Gatland has ruled himself out of coaching the British & Irish Lions in 2025, backing Andy Farrell to take the side to Australia instead.

Gatland, 60, has been the head coach for the past three Lions tours. After acting as an assistant to Sir Ian McGeechan in 2009, he oversaw a 2-1 series win in Australia in 2013, a 1-1 draw in New Zealand in 2017, and a 2-1 defeat in South Africa two years ago. Before Gatland took charge, the Lions had not won a Test series since 1997 and had lost every series in New Zealand since 1971.

Farrell, 48, was this week named World Rugby coach of the year after leading Ireland on a 17-match unbeaten run, comprising a grand slam and rise to No.1 in the world rankings, though it ended with defeat by New Zealand in the World Cup quarter-finals.

“Andy Farrell would have my backing for the job,” Gatland wrote in his column for London’s Daily Telegraph. “You cannot deny what Ireland has achieved as a nation over the past few years and you are starting to see the fruition of the alignment between the Irish provinces and the union. There is no doubt that Andy has done a fantastic job.

Ireland's head coach Andy Farrell. Picture: AFP

“Even though Ireland lost their quarter-final to New Zealand, it was an epic match and it could have gone either way. And that is sport. Everyone always just looks at results rather than what teams have achieved and the progress they have made. Andy has got really good man-management skills, has huge experience in the game as a professional from a young age in rugby league and I have huge respect for him as a person and as a coach.”

Farrell was the defence coach of the Lions in 2013 and 2017, when he was an assistant with England and Ireland respectively, but did not take part two years ago, by which time he had been promoted to head coach of Ireland.

Gatland took a sabbatical from his job as Wales head coach in the year before the 2013 and 2017 tours. He had left the Wales job before 2021 but returned 10 months ago and is contracted to remain until the 2027 World Cup after leading them to the quarter-finals this year, improving on a fifth-place finish in the Six Nations. He said he would not stop any of his Wales assistants taking up an opportunity with the Lions.

“I passionately believe that all the home unions should make their coaches available for the Lions if asked,” Gatland said. “If nothing else it is a great opportunity to develop as a coach, share ideas and learn from each other.

“If the next head coach wants to tap into my experiences from the past four tours, then I would still love to be involved in some way by passing on the knowledge I have gained.”

THE TIMES