British & Irish Lions news: Who are the coaches joining Andy Farrell?

The selection of coaches for the British and Irish Lions tour is always a hot topic of conversation.

Will the head coach stick to who he knows? Or will he change it up and get some new perspectives?

Andy Farrell being the man to lead it all is well known amongst rugby fans, but the people joining him may be less familiar.

Right now, the assistants are unknown, but some of the backroom staff have already been assembled.

Sports News Blitz rugby writer Charlie Elliott goes through the confirmed appointments, and who exactly they are.

Andy Farrell - Head Coach

One of the few players to have played both rugby league and rugby union internationally for England, Farrell has converted his impressive playing CV into a very impressive management career.

Originally head coach at Saracens, where he ended his career, he was England’s assistant before becoming a defence coach for the 2013 and 2017 Lions tours, with Warren Gatland leading.

His defensive prowess has been a feature of his time at Ireland, where he has been head coach since 2019, winning back-to-back Six Nations for the past couple of years.

A feature of his sides has been a defence-first mindset, with physical rugby preferred and results at the forefront of his importance, at all costs.

The selection and the style of play that Farrell chooses will be interesting.

Fans might not want to see a defensive-minded team and may prefer a bit more excitement but will be happy as long as the Lions win the series.

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Vinny Hammond - Head of Analysis

Vinny Hammond has been described as Farrell’s ‘right-hand man’, effectively giving him the information that he needs, when he needs it.

As head of analysis at Ireland for the past few years, he has overseen huge success and clearly knows what he is doing.

Trusted with the same role on the Lions tour twice before, he is amongst the best in the business and has been a bit of an unsung hero at times.

He has described himself previously as someone who stays calm under pressure and looks at the bigger picture, instead of focusing on small errors made on the pitch.

That calmness will be crucial in front of a partisan Australian crowd.

David Nucifora - General manager

Possibly the most surprising appointment made so far, David Nucifora is involved with the Scotland team, after leaving Ireland at the end of the 2023/24 season.

Farrell clearly knows that it was a big loss for his team and still trusts him as the best man for the job, which did come as a bit of a shock to many fans.

A Rugby World Cup winner as a player with the Wallabies in 1991 and a hugely successful coach with Brumbies in the 200s, his knowledge of rugby in Australia is unmatched.

The move shows that Farrell isn’t just looking at bringing his own staff in, but a fresh face here and there is seen as beneficial for the squad.

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Aled Walters - Head of Athletic Performance

Former England strength and conditioning coach Walters has been at Ireland since the summer of 2024 and clearly made a very good impression during his short time with Farrell.

Walters was in the same role for the Springboks in their 2019 World Cup-winning campaign and has a huge CV, with around 20 years in a few different roles to do with S&C.

Described as a ‘fitness guru’, he will be leading by example to his players and will need to keep them in top shape to compete in the warm weather that will be in Australia.

The toughest test for teams travelling down under is the weather, with increased fitness needed to cope with the conditions, so Walters will be one of the key men in preparing the team.

Another who falls into the unsung hero category, don’t underestimate the role that he is going to play.

The rest of the squad and the captain will be announced on Thursday, May 8 at the 02 in London, with the rest of the coaching staff likely coming before then.

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