Andy Farrell defends Australia's place as future Lions host

British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell has dismissed suggestions that Australia should be dropped from the future Lions tour rotation, calling the speculation "insulting" and praising the country’s rich rugby heritage and resilience.

Farrell was responding to growing debate ahead of and during the current tour, questioning whether Australia remains a suitable host nation for the Lions, particularly in light of their recent struggles.

The Wallabies exited the 2023 Rugby World Cup at the pool stage for the first time in history and fell as low as 10th in the world rankings. They have since rebounded to sixth place.

Speaking to media in Sydney, Farrell firmly rejected any notion that Australia should be replaced. “I don’t think it was ever on the agenda, in my opinion,” he said.

“It would be tragic for us not to tour here. We've had a blast, and to me, it's insulting to even talk about it in that type of way.”

Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa currently form a traditional four-year rotation to host the Lions every 12 years. However, recent speculation has hinted at nations like Argentina and France expressing interest in hosting future tours.

Farrell emphasized Australia’s broader sporting culture and their proven ability to bounce back from adversity. “Every single team, country, province has their ups and downs,” he said.

“But Australia, with the sporting nation they are, are always going to come back.”

He also pointed to the Wallabies’ performance in the second Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, calling it no surprise. “That performance on the weekend was no shock to us. That’s why we expect them to be even better on Saturday.”

Looking ahead to the 2027 Rugby World Cup, which Australia is set to host, Farrell expressed confidence that the Wallabies will emerge as strong contenders.

“Have a look at the year they've got coming up. They're going to be a force to be reckoned with 100 percent.”

The Lions head into the final Test in Sydney having already secured the series 2-0. But Farrell made it clear that, win or lose, Australia remains an essential stop in the Lions' global tradition.