r/rugbyunion • u/GnolRevilo Saracens • 24d ago
Article Andy Farrell hints at leading British & Irish Lions again for 2029 New Zealand tour
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/aug/02/andy-farrell-hints-at-leading-british-irish-lions-2029-rugby-union76
u/EnglishLouis Glaws-Pury 24d ago
What if he all of a sudden becomes shit, surely we need to wait a couple of years before making our minds up
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u/iamnosuperman123 England 24d ago
No. We make the decision now and then regret it later. That is the Lions way
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24d ago
This has already happened. He was seemingly a great coach with Catt and others around him. Ireland are on the wane but he still selected many players that probably didnt deserve to be there out of loyalty- this is a big red flag for me
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u/craicaddict- Ireland 24d ago
Agreed. Ireland are falling behind and haven’t adjusted to new tactics. I don’t see this tour as a huge success for his style either given the state Aus have been in. He’s great and has been amazing for Ireland but he needs to adapt to the times as well.
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24d ago
Its a success for Australia I think. They did better than expected and lost by the slimmest of margins. This will be a good base for them to build from.
I suspect that the Lions would have mullered Oz if there were more on-form English were selected to start and the Scots centres too.
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u/kdog_1985 Australia 24d ago
Won't matter if his dad is coaching.
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u/Goaduk 24d ago
posting without reading the original post by any chance?
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u/kdog_1985 Australia 24d ago
I don't read about the Farrell's, I go off feels.
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u/Goaduk 24d ago
How do you know it was about the Farrells.
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u/kdog_1985 Australia 24d ago
Title of the post
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u/Existing_Ad8943 24d ago
I don't think they should pick one of the head coaches of the home nations
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u/Mont-ka Hurricanes 24d ago
Did you just say Eddie Jones should coach Lions 2029?
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u/LdnGiant Harlequins 24d ago
After 2019 - had he not stayed on with England - I’d have had him as Lions coach in a heartbeat.
Then ‘the rest of his England tenure’ and Australia @ RWC 2023 happened and I’m glad that never came to pass.
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u/shenguskhan2312 24d ago
It’d never happen but I’d love to see ugo mola in charge
Think his style of, “you’re all outrageously talented now get out there and joue joue” is exactly what a lions team should be playing like
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u/Minimum-Grapefruit-9 24d ago
I agree - or it should be coached by all of them.
Combined coaching ticket of Farrell, Borthwick, Townsend and Tandy would be pretty good…
Also all 4 captains should be named as joint tour captains.
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u/Iwantedalbino 24d ago
Lacking an attack coach in that list.
I still believe there should be a tour captain not a lions captain. Make sure all 15 are competed for.
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u/Ok_Soil_7466 Scotland 24d ago
Eh, Townsend is an attack coach.
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u/Iwantedalbino 24d ago
You have your theory I have mine.
Give it to Finn and hope something happens is not an attacking structure even if it is an attacking plan . Extensively throughout GTs tenure our attack shape has been predicated on someone doing something magical to break the gainline rather than any sort of structure to create mismatches or overload a defence.
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u/Dre3K Scarlets 24d ago
I agree but I'm not sure who would be picked as an alternative.
If you're picking a club coach you will still see them play favourites with the people they are familiar with.
Also can't see the coach of another national team bouncing from their summer tour to coach the Lions. At least with the home nations head coaches they can still benefit from coaching some of their own players and developing them even further.
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u/The_Ignorant_Sapien Front Row Union 24d ago
ROG or we riot!
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u/teckmaniac Northampton Saints 24d ago
Fucking enorme
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u/PollenPartyPaulie Japan | Spears | Cardiff 24d ago
C'est ton fucking Mont Blanc, fellas
ROG probably
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u/low_myope Ospreys 24d ago edited 24d ago
I don’t think that this is the worst shout in the world tbh. I think that the Lions coach being one of the recent or incumbent national coaches presents a significant conflict of interest. This was true for Woodward in 2005, Gatland in 2013/2017/2021 and this year with Farrell.
The last unaffiliated coach was Ian McGeechan in 2009, and for all intents and purposes he is Mr B&I Lions.
ROG would make sense as he is a former Lion who toured three times. He knows the Lions ethos and brand, has success at club level, and appears to be the Ireland coach in waiting.
You could consider Shaun Edwards also. Yes he was with Wales before, but has been with France now for 6 years.
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u/GourangaPlusPlus England 24d ago
I was very surprised Shaun Edwards wasn't selected to come on tour this year
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u/Vegetable_Network879 24d ago
I think that would depend on where O’Gara is coaching nearer the time.
He’s expressed an interest in taking a National team job and there are likely to be several available after the 2027 WC. If he were to take a job post WC then I think that would rule him out, otherwise it’s a great shout.
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u/Local_Skill4684 24d ago
Absolutely not. The maximum amount of time in advance this decision should be made is 18 months and it should entirely depend on performance over the next few years.
The Warren rule shouldn’t be a thing.
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u/WallopyJoe 24d ago
Can I put my name forward for consideration?
I'm sure you guys would all back my vote.
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u/DerrickBobson 24d ago
You have my sword
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u/WallopyJoe 24d ago
Don't really need a sword... I guess you can be my attack coach
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u/DerrickBobson 24d ago
It’s all about the element of surprise
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u/WallopyJoe 24d ago
Maybe skills coach instead then?
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u/DerrickBobson 24d ago
Just as long as Bundee brings his Game Boy and tells a grown up when he needs to go to the toilet
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u/VesilahdenVerajilla 24d ago
Fuck that, here's my axe!
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u/RaaschyOG Cramp Haver 24d ago
And my Ax
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u/VesilahdenVerajilla 24d ago
Fuck that. Here's my axe.
Edit: I didn't mean to reply to this comment, nothing to see here.
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u/Low_Interview_5769 24d ago
If it is indeed the will of the council, Connacht will see it done
Soooo..... Aki at 12 again lads
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u/Much-Calligrapher 24d ago
I can see it now.
A year after his retirement, Owen Farrell is placed on standby after the initial squad announcement.
Andy says Owen is in the running but needs to prove and form fitness.
He doesn’t.
An injury in the second row occurs halfway through the tour games.
Owen is called in as a replacement because the squad is apparently short on 12 options.
Tuipolotu, fresh off winning world rugby player of the year, is left out for Farrell.
Fans are delighted, noting Farrell made a try assist in his 30 min tour debut off the bench. They are not concerned about his yellow for a high hit, as he “did well considering how long he’s been out”. They are excited for his “leadership and experience”.
The previously fizzing Lions back line is sluggish in the first test. The apparently well stocked second row ends up with a number 8 playing out of position their in the final test as we were out of bench options
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u/Immorals1 Saracens 24d ago
Please no.
Eddie Jones or we riot
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u/Hanns_yolo 24d ago
The English rugby public were already close to rioting in their attempts to get rid of Eddie Jones.
Well as close as it is possible to rioting if you live in Richmond and drive a Range Rover. So like excessive tutting while reading The Telegraph.
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u/TheFlyingScotsman60 24d ago
I see you Eddie Jones and raise you Matt Williams.....
Both have incredibly high opinions of themselves but everyone knows they're arseholes.
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u/Low_Interview_5769 24d ago
I hope he doesnt, i always hated that they had Gatland for 3242342 years.
I wish they had to have a new one each time and it couldnt be same countries head coach back to back
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u/Ok_Soil_7466 Scotland 24d ago
Fucking hope not. His much vaunted coaching talents saw the Lions winning by a controversial clear out.
He couldn't pick his nose - every man and his dug knew the Lions needed fresh legs, instead we ended up with his boy and Aki in the centre.
His legacy is he limped over the line.
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u/HumanWaltz Wales 24d ago
Farrell is famously known for squad rotation irregardless of fitness, as Ireland can attest in their winning of the 2023 WC, wdym they lost in their QF as his team were knackered and led by a 10 who was hobbling around the pitch?
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u/IsNuanceDead Glasgow Warriors 24d ago
Please no, i dont need to see 39 year old aki keeping out whatever incredible centre from wales / england / scotland
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u/Spglwldn Scotland 24d ago
Joseph Suaaili left out despite scoring 24 tries in 8 Scotland appearances after new World Rugby chairman, Tregor Gownsend, changes the residency eligibility rules and says he’s his long lost Scottish Grandad.
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u/HumanWaltz Wales 24d ago
He’s reliable and known quantity, always performs in the big moments, test match animal. Errrr consistent, any more to tick off?
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u/NoPause9609 New Zealand 24d ago
Lol. Bring it on, easy pickings.
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u/UnfortunatelySimple New Zealand 24d ago
While the Lions won this series, the points difference against Australia was 0, they lost the last match, and against official test teams, they went 2/2 with a negative points difference.
Exactly what is there to crow about?
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u/FlatSpinMan :New Zealand: :Otago Highlanders: 24d ago
Nothing, hence no one in this comment thread crowed.
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u/19Andrew92 Scotland 24d ago
Considering we would have been comfortably smashed in all 3 tests were we playing NZ or SA I’d maybe suggest we hold off on naming the same guy as head coach in 4 years time tbh…
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u/MisterIndecisive England 24d ago
He can fuck right off. Lions were dire in 2nd and 3rd game and never got out of first gear. We only won the series because the wallabies are so bad
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u/alextrombone94 England 24d ago
I think they should go for someone who doesn’t coach any of the four nations
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u/Brine-O-Driscoll Connacht 24d ago
Mad to see all the negative comments here when he's only said he'd be interested in coaching the team again.
Farrell's won both Lions series he's been involved in and had the Lions playing a good brand of rugby while doing it.
If Farrell is still on top of his game coaching-wise in 3 years, I don't see why he wouldn't be chosen again.
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u/nobody7642 Consistently 2nd best 24d ago
You expected people to read the article before commenting? Farrell, Lions, 2029 is all they need to see to get their moan on
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u/InTheBath73 Scarlets 24d ago
The Lions played a good brand of rugby?!
He's been far too loyal to his players this time round. A fresh face with no ties to current national teams is needed.
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u/Brine-O-Driscoll Connacht 24d ago
I'll leave off the good brand of rugby part because that's a matter of opinion, but too loyal? I'd imagine Van der Flier and Bealham wished he'd been a bit more loyal 😄.
Like any good test coach, Farrell is just picking the players who he thinks are the best to get the job done.
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u/LawTortoise Northampton Saints 24d ago
VdF deserved a place more than Beirne and Conan. Those two had a fairly decent first test and were bang average thereafter.
Farrell’s selections were him playing it safe and we got dragged into a dogfight which he barely came out on top of.
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u/Ok_Soil_7466 Scotland 24d ago
Beirne was outstanding in all 3 tests - whether he deserved selection for the first test is another matter - but he certainly had a great series.
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u/PaulSarries Saracens England 24d ago
Not sure today's performance qualifies as 'a good brand of rugby'.
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u/Cas-Gwent-boyo 24d ago
I agree but his speeches are so non-motivational and monotone it bores the living shit out of me. Needs more passion to come out. Farrell and Itoje need more pre-match bite. I had more motivation in school rugby heading up the valleys for a trouncing!
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u/mankieneck 24d ago
Should be nowhere near it.
Hoping next time that it is someone who isn't a head coach of a current B&I Lions nation. I don't want to be wondering if players are getting selected because they're a coach's favourites, or because he wants to develop them, or any other reason than they are best available or most in-form.
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u/LawTortoise Northampton Saints 24d ago
Please no. Disappointing tour all told. Lions never sparkled. Poor rugby against a poor side. Unadventurous coach picked a functional side of his faves that scraped its way to narrow victory in a series it should have run away with given players at disposal.
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u/Mr_Gin_Tonic Bristol 24d ago
I was discussing this at half time during the game today.
If not Farrell who else?
It's common for a nation's head coach to coach the lions. I hardly see Townsend being selected, and while amusing to think about Matt Sheratt is hardly going to be asked. Borthwick is a "young" coach without a great deal of international experience and England hasn't exactly been flying.
Outside of the home nations what other squads are there who understand the Lions?
... What does everyone think about Pat Lam Lions Coach?
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u/diinokk Exeter Chiefs 24d ago
Borthwick will have been England head coach for over 6 years by the next Lions tour, the same time that Faz Sr has been at Ireland until now. If England have a good crack at the 2027 RWC and Ireland another QF exit I think Borthwick would be more than qualified for the job.
Realistically though there’s no chance all four head coaches last four more years, some Scottish fans already want Toonie’s head.
My vote is for an external coach to come in honestly. Too much attention gets diverted from the test sides and accusations of favouritism etc.
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u/Thekingofchrome 24d ago
Dunno. It’s 4 years time. There’s lots that can happen.if he had won this 3-0 the I would think it would be highly likely, now…I would say it’s marginal.
He would need to continue to deliver for Ireland, plus you have other contenders. Borthwick maybe in with a shout.
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u/Rude_Rhubarb1880 24d ago
Farrell gives insight into his “4 years in advance” selection policy by selecting himself as coach, his entire Lions team and including various friends and family
This the only thing that explains why Aki and Farrell were deemed the best Centre combination available
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u/DCI_Tom_Barnaby_ Australia 24d ago
Hard to see it coming off the like clockwork quarter final exit in RWC 27. ROG will be coaching Ireland after that
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u/Wonderman94 Sale Sharks 24d ago
Doesn’t deserve it at all. Spluttered to a series win with some bad performances and very dodgy team selections
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u/Ok_Soil_7466 Scotland 24d ago
To me this is the biggest issue - the Lions while not as eye bleedingly bad as the Gatlandball era were terrible to watch. Which is a fecking disgrace when you look at the players he had at his disposal.
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u/what_am_i_acc_doing Ospreys 24d ago edited 24d ago
Please no, was lucky to beat the worst Australia team ever. Would have been a whitewash for Australia if they had Tupou, Skelton and Valetini available more or even just a fair crack from the ref.
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u/Naggins Furlong wears Linda Djougang pyjamas 24d ago
It is funny seeing people say this would be a disaster as if Farrell didn't engineer an incredibly dominant win and a remarkable comeback to win the series.
In retrospect you can say he should've changed the squad around for test 3 to get players in eager to prove themselves in their first full Lions test but that's just an exercise in hindsight.
Between unprecedented weather conditions and the awful luck of having two locks go off with HIAs in the first 45 minutes, it's difficult to say what would've gone right if he'd made different selection decisions. That's just part of the job tbh.
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u/Damien23123 24d ago
Please no. If Australia aren’t so undercooked in the first test they very likely win the series.
The era of picking the head coach of one of the home nations needs to end
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u/Kykykz Munster 24d ago
I mean this isn't exactly surprising. It seems to be down to the current coach to way yeah I'll be here in 4 years or nah i don't want it. Doesn't seem to be much of a review process put on it (we wouldn't have 12 years of Warren ball otherwise) wish it was decided closer to the tour with the coaches having to put forward something to suggest why it should be them (L'opportunité est fing énorme)
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u/meohmyenjoyingthat I am the Lomax, I speak for the scrum 24d ago
Somehow it will be Clayton McMillan
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u/NZWarrior13 24d ago
No thanks. What part of this tour did he demonstrate he has any clue? He was out coached by Schmidt. If he stays for NZ tour the Lions will get hammered
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u/Bloodbathandbeyon Bovine University alumni 2007 24d ago
We will cross this potential nepotism bridge when we get to it. In the mean time Andy just focus on other things
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u/FumbleMyEndzone 24d ago
Furlong and Aki playing all three tests again then.