Warren Gatland has backed Andy Farrell to be the next British and Irish Lions head coach after ruling himself out of the running for the 2025 tour of Australia.
New Zealander Gatland, who late last year returned for a second spell as Wales boss, has overseen the last three Lions tours.
Farrell was on Sunday named World Rugby coach of the year after leading Ireland to a Guinness Six Nations Grand Slam amid a 17-match winning run. “A few weeks ago, I was asked by Nigel Walker, Wales’ director of rugby, if I was interested in putting my name forward to be head coach for the next tour in Australia in 2025,” Gatland wrote in his column for the Telegraph. “It did not take long to get back to him. “I told him I was not going to put my name forward.
I told Nigel that I would have no problem if any of my support staff were to be asked to be involved as I would see it as a great experience for them. “But I think it is the opportunity now for someone else to be head coach and Andy Farrell would have my backing for the job. “You cannot deny what Ireland have achieved as a nation over the last few years.