In an exclusive report by the Mail Online, it has been revealed that Andy Farrell is poised to take the reins as the head coach for the 2025 Lions tour of Australia, with the official announcement expected next week.
Despite the recent World Cup setback where his Ireland squad was eliminated in the quarter-final, Farrell remains the frontrunner for this prestigious position.
The renowned coach, who led Ireland to a Grand Slam triumph last season and orchestrated a historic Test series victory in New Zealand the year before, brings a wealth of experience to the role.
Having previously served as an assistant under Warren Gatland on two Lions tours, Farrell’s extensive background and success on the international stage make him a highly anticipated choice for the upcoming campaign.
The Lions’ comprehensive nine-match itinerary has been confirmed, commencing on Wednesday, 2 July, with a match against the Queensland Reds in Brisbane. This will be the Lions’ first visit to Australia since their victorious 2-1 series in 2013.
Notably, the Lions will benefit from the longest preparation period for a tour in recent history, thanks to the cooperation of Premiership Rugby and the United Rugby Championship. As part of their preparations, the Lions will also engage in a warm-up match against a combined Australia and New Zealand side in Adelaide.
Seeking their first tour triumph since defeating the Wallabies a decade ago, the Lions are determined to make this tour a success. Their previous tour saw them narrowly lose 2-1 in South Africa, following a tied series in New Zealand in 2017. Unfortunately, the 2021 matches against the Springboks were played behind closed doors due to pandemic restrictions, preventing spectators from attending.
Ieuan Evans, chairman of the British and Irish Lions, expressed his excitement, stating that Lions tours to Australia have always been memorable and the 2025 tour promises to be no exception. Furthermore, the British and Irish Lions are actively exploring the possibility of organizing their inaugural Lions Women’s Tour, following positive outcomes from a feasibility study.
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British and Irish Lions’ 2025 tour of Australia
2 July: Queensland Reds (Brisbane)
5 July: Waratahs (Sydney)
9 July: Brumbies (Canberra)
12 July: Invitational Australia and New Zealand team (Adelaide)
19 July: First Test vs Australia (Brisbane)
22 July: Melbourne Rebels (Melbourne)
26 July: Second Test vs Australia (Melbourne)
2 August: Third Test vs Australia (Sydney)
Warren Gatland’s 2023 Lions XV:
Back-three:
15. Hugo Keenan – Ireland
14. Duhan van der Merwe – Scotland
He wrote: “Mack Hansen is very unlucky here but I’m switching Duhan to the right wing. I think he is in much better shape physically than he was when he was with the Lions a couple of years ago. He caused defenders all sorts of problems, carried well and scored some outstanding tries. He has also definitely improved his aerial game, which was something he had to work on.”
11. James Lowe – Ireland
Centre:
13. Huw Jones – Scotland
12. Sione Tuipulotu – Scotland
He wrote: “I was also impressed with the impact Bundee Aki made for Ireland, but Sione has a superb all-around game. He does not just give you good go-forward ball but can make the pass and offload as well.”