Andy Farrell gets IRFU Lions backing after new contract

IRFU performance director David Nucifora says it was vital they locked their "sought after" head coach Andy Farrell into a new contract, adding that they would fully back Farrell to become head coach of the British and Irish Lions in 2025.

Farrell has agreed a new contract until the end of the 2027 Rugby World Cup, and is the frontrunner to lead the Lions on their 2025 tour of Australia.

Should that happen, the Englishman would have to take a sabbatical from his Irish role, just as Warren Gatland did while coaching Wales in 2013 and 2017.

And Nucifora says they won't stand in Farrell's way if he's offered the position.

"We'd be ecstatic if Andy was named coach of the Lions so hopefully that accolade is the next one for him and we’d be more than comfortable with how deal with it," Nucifora said at a press briefing on Thursday.

"As far as the period of time he might be away from us, that’s still something I think can be discussed if this happens."

The Ireland head coach had been under contract until 2025, with his new deal ensuring he'll remain in charge for another World Cup cycle.

Farrell (below) has enjoyed enormous success in recent seasons, masterminding Ireland's series win in New Zealand in 2022, as well their Six Nations Grand Slam in 2023, before being named as World Rugby's Coach of the Year last month.

"Andy's loved his time here. Obviously he’s a very sought-after coach on the world scene," Nucifora added.

"He’s loved his time, he’s loved working here, a great working environment that we have, the people we’ve got in that, so it was a reasonably smooth process to extend the contract.

"It's great news for Irish rugby, the fact that Andy Farrell has signed an extension through to the end of the 2027 Rugby World Cup in