LIST: 5 early favourites to coach the Lions in 2025

Friday, 30 July 2021 at 08:24

byRugby Rucker

Head coach Warren Gatland has ruled himself out of contention to lead the British and Irish Lions once again in 2025.

Here we run down the five favourites with Sky Bet to lead the tour to Australia.

#1. Andy Farrell - 5/1

A surprising selection over Gatland's former right-hand man Shaun Edwards for the tour of Australia in 2013, Farrell has established himself as a Lions coaching hero in the meantime, and has yet to lose a series.

Farrell's suffocating line-speed defence helped shut down some vaunted attacking sides in New Zealand in 2017, with the all-conquering Crusaders kept try-less and the All Blacks themselves limited to just 15 points in the Auckland Test series decider.

Senior Lions figures have talked privately about Farrell one day being a Lions head coach, and it is not difficult to see him heading up the whole outfit come 2025.

#1. Gregor Townsend - 7/1

Townsend led Scotland to standout Six Nations victories in England and France earlier this year before joining Warren Gatland’s Lions backroom staff for the South Africa tour.

The 48-year-old will be gunning to help the Lions seal a series win over the Springboks with victory in Saturday’s second Test in Cape Town

#3. Eddie Jones - 5/2

The Aussie has revealed a desire to lead the Lions in the future and by 2025 his insight into British and Irish rugby would be extensive — combine that with his coaching expertise and he becomes an excellent candidate. A worthy bookies favourite.

"I am open to everything. I don't sit there at night and think 'I hope I am going to be the next Lions coach'," said Jones.

"Because it is such a unique job there is no natural progression to it. It is a one-off job which is decided at a certain time.

"And if you are in the market and in the right area then you are going to get a call and get a tap on the shoulder. I wouldn't say no but I am not saying yes."

#4. Mark McCall - 40/1

Former Ulster coach McCall's stunning success with Saracens must not be overlooked in any conversation about coaches with Test match calibre.

Whether McCall wants a move into the Test arena remains to be seen.

#5. Stuart Lancaster - 30/10

After the devastating end to his England tenure, Lancaster has rebuilt and enhanced his reputation at Leinster, winning a string of Pro 14 titles and a Champions Cup in 2018.