Ireland rugby coach Andy Farrell extends contract until 2027

DUBLIN – Ireland coach Andy Farrell is proud to extend his contract until the end of the 2027 Rugby World Cup, as the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) kept faith with the former England player who led the team to the last eight of the 2023 global showpiece and Six Nations success.

The 48-year-old took over from Joe Schmidt following the 2019 World Cup and led Ireland to a Six Nations Grand Slam in 2023, plus a 17-game winning run that saw them ranked No. 1 in the world and among the favourites to win the World Cup in France.

However, they were beaten in the quarter-finals by New Zealand in Paris in October.

“Coaching Ireland has been a hugely enjoyable experience and I am proud to extend my association with the IRFU,” Farrell said on Dec 14.

“It is a pleasure to work with such a talented and committed group of players and as we enter a new cycle it will be exciting to see more players come through the system.”

Farrell, the father of England fly-half Owen, added: “There is a talented group of established internationals who are determined to succeed at international level for Ireland and I am excited to see how the recent Ireland Under-20 squads will also emerge and challenge for honours in the near future.

“It all makes for an exciting next chapter and it is one which my family and I are delighted to continue.”

Farrell, whose previous contract ran until 2025, is also fancied to lead the British and Irish Lions’ tour of Australia in 2025.

IRFU performance director David Nucifora said that he was delighted to have retained the current World Rugby Coach of the Year, saying: “Over the course of the last four years, Andy has helped drive the highest standards for the men’s national team.

“It’s testament to the positive environment which he and his backroom team have fostered that Ireland has enjoyed such a sustained period of success in recent times.

“We’d be ecstatic if Andy was named coach of the Lions so hopefully that accolade is the next one for him... 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.”

Capped eight times by England in rugby union and 34 times for Britain in rugby league, Farrell was part of England’s staff from 2011 to 2015 before joining the Ireland coaching team in 2016, working under Schmidt.

Ireland will begin the 2024 Six Nations campaign against France in Marseille on Feb 2.
REUTERS, AFP