Andy Farrell – The born leader tasked with putting the Lions back on top
'We are taking them boys to the hurt arena this weekend,' he told players in his role as an assistant to Warren Gatland.
'Our mentality is going to be a different mentality than what the British Lions teams have had over the last 16 years.'
🗣💪💥'We are taking them boys to the Hurt Arena this weekend'
How can you not feel the #MondayMotivation from this speech by Andy Farrell?#LionsRugby pic.twitter.com/gg3teoLKcB
— British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) March 8, 2021
The Lions subsequently romped to a 41-16 victory in Sydney and a first tour triumph since 1997.
Ahead of a reunion with the Wallabies, Farrell, who concedes his modern-day team talks are 'probably not as dramatic', is tasked with returning the team to winning ways.
A 1-1 series draw in New Zealand in 2017, for which he again joined Gatland's backroom staff, was followed by the Lions' 2-1 loss to South Africa amid Covid-19 restrictions in 2021.
Farrell's elevation to head coach – only the second Englishman to hold the role in the last 75 years, after Sir Clive Woodward in 2005 – was anything but a surprise.
The 2023 World Rugby coach of the year was odds-on favourite to land one of the sport's most prestigious posts after establishing Ireland as global heavyweights.
His true emergence as the outstanding candidate to succeed Gatland came in 2022 when he masterminded a stunning series success in New Zealand.
The historic achievement launched a 17-match winning streak which brought Six Nations Grand Slam glory, victory over each of rugby's leading Test sides and time at the top of the world rankings.
Defeat to the All Blacks in the World Cup quarter-finals in October 2023 finally halted the record-breaking run of victories.
Yet that disappointment did little to damage the rising stock of a born leader renowned for emotional intelligence, superb man-management skills, a shrewd rugby brain and an unflappable mentality.
Farrell bounced back to lead Ireland to a second successive Six Nations title in 2024 and a drawn summer series against world champions South Africa before embarking on his Lions sabbatical – a term he is not a fan of – after ending the autumn with victory over Joe Schmidt's Wallabies.
'It sounds like I'm going on holiday – and that's not the case, I can guarantee you that,' he said in November.
Born in Wigan in May 1975, dual code international Farrell represented his hometown club in rugby league with distinction.
A goal-kicking loose forward, he made his first-team debut in November 1991 at the age of 16 – two months after the birth of son Owen, the former England captain – and regularly lifted silverware, in addition to twice being named Man of Steel.
Farrell switched codes to play for Saracens in 2005 but the transition was severely hampered by foot surgery and back problems, including a prolapsed disc after a car crash.
Injuries limited him to just eight Test caps in rugby union and kept him sidelined for the latter stages of England's run to the 2007 World Cup final, where they finished runners-up to South Africa.
Farrell was later joined at Saracens by a teenage Owen and then remained with the Premiership club following retirement in 2009 to begin his coaching career before joining the England setup under Stuart Lancaster ahead of the 2012 Six Nations.
Four years later, the 50-year-old headed across the Irish Sea seeking to rebuild his reputation after being dismissed by newly-appointed England coach Eddie Jones in the aftermath of a dismal home World Cup.
Farrell, who initially served as Ireland's defence coach under Schmidt before stepping into the top job following the 2019 World Cup, has since given the RFU cause for regret.
Following a rocky transitional period amid the coronavirus pandemic, his vision of a slick system of short, swift interplay featuring multiple dummy runners and 'messy wingers' free to roam from the flanks clicked into gear in devastating fashion and to widespread acclaim.
An epic fixture schedule locked in! 🔒🦁#Lions2025 #WeGoBeyond pic.twitter.com/go6NNwY06f
— British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) June 5, 2025
His well-earned reward has been two contract extensions from the IRFU – initially until 2025 and then 2027 – and now an opportunity to lead the Lions.
'This means the world to me,' said Farrell when his appointment was announced in January last year.
'To be thought of as a candidate for the head coach's role is pretty special, but to be chosen is pretty magical.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Catalans cruise past Giants to end losing streak
Betfred Super LeagueCatalans Dragons (20) 32Tries: Darrelatour, Keary, Tomkins, Martin, Da Costa Goals: Makinson 6Huddersfield Giants 0 Struggling Catalans Dragons ended a seven-match losing streak with a thumping win over Huddersfield was a first success for interim head coach Joel Tomkins, and his brother Sam played a key role in temperatures of over 38C (100F) in Darrelatour, Luke Keary and Tomkins scored the first-half tries, with two more added after the interval from Clement Martin and Alrix Da Costa in Catalans' biggest victory of the French side stay ninth in Super League, while Huddersfield remain second bottom in 11th after a 14th defeat in 16 games in the competition this season. More to follow. Catalans Dragons: Tomkins; Cotric, Martin, Darrelatour, Makinson; Keary, Rouge; Navarrete, Da Costa, Maria, Sironen, Seguier, Pangai Jr, Bousquet, Dezaria, Giants: Flanagan; Gagai, Halsall, Milne, Jake Bibby; Lolohea, Frawley; King, Woolford, Powell, Rushton, Greenwood, Golding, English, Burgess, Rush. Referee: Cameron Worsley.
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Paul Pogba seals return to football after doping ban as ex-Man Utd star joins Ligue 1 side Monaco
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) PAUL POGBA is finally back in football. And having ended his 18-month doping ban at the age of 32, the ex-Manchester United midfielder has joined a club in home country France for the first time ever. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Paul Pogba will finally play domestic football in France Credit: MANACO 5 Pogba failed a test in August 2023 and hasn't played since the following month Credit: Getty Monaco have signed the 2018 World Cup winner on a two-year contract. The former Juventus hero last played in September 2023 but insists he "still feels like a kid". Pogba was suspended following a random drug test after the Italian giants played Udinese on the first day of the 2023-24 season. He was banned for four years but that was slashed by 30 months on appeal last October. READ MORE ON MAN UTD WISH ROO WERE HERE? Wayne Rooney pictured looking glum on holiday with Coleen & Utd legends The four-time Serie A winner pledged to ultimately resume playing. However, Pogba's contract with Juve was terminated by mutual consent last November. Two months after that, he appeared to hint at a THIRD spell with the Red Devils. Pogba teased United fans with an Instagram post. 5 The midfielder reckons he's mentally and physically ready Credit: MANACO BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK He shared a cartoon drawing of himself next to Old Trafford ace Amad Diallo - with BOTH players in Red Devils' kit. Pogba sent speculation spiralling by adding the words: "Let's see what's coming..." Man Utd open to Rasmus Hojlund offers LATEST with Italian giants keen | Transfers Exposed 5 He's been free to find a new team since March this year. And it's understood he hoped to attract interest from the Bundesliga as well as Juve's major rivals in Serie A. Instead, however, Ligue 1 runners-up Monaco have swooped. The Old Trafford academy product left United for his first stint with Juve in 2012. Four glittering years later, Pogba returned to the Red Devils for a then-British record fee of £89million. But his Premier League form was more erratic than electric. Pogba did help Jose Mourinho's Red Devils win both the Europa League and League Cup in 2016-17. But he reunited with Juve via a four-year deal and free transfer in July 2022, only to fail a drug test 13 months later He was found to have taken banned substance dehydroepiandrosterone, which boosts testosterone and can improve endurance. But Pogba's suspension was cut last autumn when the Court of Arbitration for Sport accepted his case it "was not intentional". Now the 91-cap star is revving up for a top-level return. Just days ago, as he neared his move to Monaco, Pogba said: "I'm mentally and physically ready, and I'm eager to start again. "I'm 32, but I still feel like a kid." Pogba also criticised Juve for rejecting his pleas for help. He told French TV channel TF1: "I asked to get a fitness coach. I had the right, and I was always part of the team. "They were not very kind to me, they did not support me, and I was shocked. I did not understand why." "I thought I was at war with anti-doping authorities."
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Paul Pogba seals return to football after doping ban as ex-Man Utd star joins Ligue 1 side Monaco
PAUL POGBA is finally back in football. And having ended his 18-month doping ban at the age of 32, the ex- Manchester United midfielder has joined a club in home country France for the first time ever. 4 4 Monaco have signed the 2018 World Cup winner on a two-year contract. The former Juventus hero last played in September 2023 but insists he "still feels like a kid". Pogba was suspended following a random drug test after the Italian giants played Udinese on the first day of the 2023-24 season. He was banned for four years but that was slashed by 30 months on appeal last October. The four-time Serie A winner pledged to ultimately resume playing. However, Pogba's contract with Juve was terminated by mutual consent last November. Two months after that, he appeared to hint at a THIRD spell with the Red Devils. Pogba teased United fans with an Instagram post. 4 He shared a cartoon drawing of himself next to Old Trafford ace Amad Diallo - with BOTH players in Red Devils' kit. Pogba sent speculation spiralling by adding the words: "Let's see what's coming..." Man Utd open to Rasmus Hojlund offers LATEST with Italian giants keen | Transfers Exposed He's been free to find a new team since March this year. And it's understood he hoped to attract interest from the Bundesliga as well as Juve's major rivals in Serie A. Instead, however, Ligue 1 runners-up Monaco have swooped. The Old Trafford academy product left United for his first stint with Juve in 2012. Four glittering years later, Pogba returned to the Red Devils for a then-British record fee of £89million. But his Premier League form was more erratic than electric. Pogba did help Jose Mourinho's Red Devils win both the Europa League and League Cup in 2016-17. But he reunited with Juve via a four-year deal and free transfer in July 2022, only to fail a drug test 13 months later He was found to have taken banned substance dehydroepiandrosterone, which boosts testosterone and can improve endurance. But Pogba's suspension was cut last autumn when the Court of Arbitration for Sport accepted his case it "was not intentional". Now the 91-cap star is revving up for a top-level return. Just days ago, as he neared his move to Monaco, Pogba said: "I'm mentally and physically ready, and I'm eager to start again. "I'm 32, but I still feel like a kid." Pogba also criticised Juve for rejecting his pleas for help. He told French TV channel TF1: "I asked to get a fitness coach. I had the right, and I was always part of the team. "They were not very kind to me, they did not support me, and I was shocked. I did not understand why." "I thought I was at war with anti-doping authorities."
