"Respectfully, no," - Eddie Jones responds to speculation he could coach the Lions in 2025

Despite being the early favourite to take he role, the England head coach - who will depart Twickenham in 2023 - has ruled himself out of contention of leading the tourists in Australia.

"Respectfully, no," said Jones during a fans Q&A for The Telegraph.

"I am an Australian and I don’t really have any connection to the Lions as such. I think it’d be better for someone from the home countries to do it.

"I’m also not suited to wearing a blazer 12 months of the year. Someone like Gregor Townsend or Andy Farrell would be better for that job than me."

Rugby Australia are reportedly eager to include Fiji and Tonga in the tour of Australia.

Such a move would be a significant for the British and Irish Lions, who have only played one test match against a Pacific Island nation in the team’s 133-year history.

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. 

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."

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

Gatland has left the door open to be involved in a fifth Lions tour after Morne Steyn once again secured the Springboks a 2-1 Test series victory.

“In terms of involvement, there’s a lot of water under the bridge in four years. A lot of things can happen in that time,” Gatland said. “I’ve loved my time with the Lions. It's something that I'll reflect on. I'm incredibly proud of my involvement and I've been very, very fortunate.

“And I think that time on my own will be a good chance to think what the next chapter of my life is going to be. I'm not someone who plans too far ahead, I'm a great believer in what will be will be. Other things will be on the horizon on the future, and other opportunities. What they will be I'm not sure. I haven't got any long-term plans, so it's just a bit of wait and see.”

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.