Andy Farrell front-runner for Lions coaching role for 2025 tour of Australia

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell is all set to take in charge of the British and Irish Lions when they tour Australia in 2025.

Farrell was already involved with the Lions during the previous tour of Australia in 2013 in which he was the defence coach and the 2017 tour of New Zealand under Warren Gatland.

The 48-year-old started his coaching career with Saracens in 2010 before joining England as an assistant coach between 2011 and 2015.

He moved to Ireland as an assistant and took over the head coach of the side when Joe Schmidt stepped down post the 2019 Rugby World Cup. He missed out on the 2021 tour of South Africa due to his commitment with Ireland.

Under Farrell, Ireland reached the number one position in World Rugby Rankings after helping them to a Six Nations Grand Slam, the Triple Crown and a series victory in New Zealand. The side also reached the quarter-finals in the recently concluded Rugby World Cup in France last year.

"We'd be ecstatic if Andy was named coach of the Lions so hopefully that accolade is the next one for him," IRFU performance director David Nucifora said in December.