Warren Gatland backs Andy Farrell to be next British and Irish Lions Head Coach

The former three time head coach of the B&I Lions Warren Gatland will not be putting his name forward for the job for a fourth time.

PASSING ON THE BATON: Warren Gatland has announced that he will not be putting his name forward for the 2025 British and Irish Lions Tour and is backing Ireland Head Coach Andy Farrell for the job. 

Warren Gatland will not be putting his name in the hat for the head coach role for the next British and Irish Lions tour of Australia in 2025. 

Gatland has a deep seeded love for the British and Irish Lions having faced them in 1993 in the tour of New Zealand. He then went on to be assistant coach to Sir Ian McGeechan in that 2009 tour of South Africa.

Gatland was then head coach for three tours - Australia 2013, New Zealand 2017 and South Africa in 2021. Gatland's record as Head coach is a series win in Australia (2wins, 1 loss), draw in New Zealand (1 win, 1 loss, 1 draw) and a loss in South Africa (1 win, 2 losses). 

In his column in The Telegraph, Gatland stated that he had been asked by Wales Director of Rugby Nigel Walker if he was interested in putting his hat in the ring for the 2025 tour to which Gatland swiftly replied he would not be putting it forward.

Gatland said he would have no issues with any of his support staff being involved if asked as he "would see it as a great experience for them".

Gatland believes the time has come for a new head coach and he has one man in mind who he will be supporting for the job. 

"Andy Farrell would have my backing for the job.

"You cannot deny what Ireland have achieved as a nation over the last few years and you are starting to see the fruition of the alignment between the Irish provinces and the union. There is no doubt that Andy has done a fantastic job."

Despite Ireland's loss at the quarter-final stage at the Rugby World Cup to New Zealand, Gatland believes that Farrell has "good man-management skills, has huge experience in the game as a professional from a young age in rugby league" and is a man who is greatly respected by Gatland both as a person and a coach.

Gatland worked with Farrell on the Lions tours in 2013 and 2017 and wanted him to be part of his management team again for the South Africa tour in 2021 but Ireland wanted Farrell to stay to help develop another fly-half.

"Unfortunately I was told Ireland were not keen on releasing him because of the need to develop another fly-half behind Johnny Sexton – even though there was an opportunity for him to go to South Africa, who were in their World Cup pool, and get a close-up look at them over seven weeks."

Gatland went on to say that all Home Nations should allow their coaches be available to the Lions. 

"I passionately believe that all the Home Unions should make their coaches available for the Lions if asked. If nothing else it is a great opportunity to develop as a coach, share ideas and learn from each other.

"As a coach not from one of the four Home Unions, I have always felt an extra responsibility to make sure I always honoured the best traditions of the Lions and did everything I could to fight for extra preparation time to ensure the players have the best chance of winning. Sometimes it has felt like an existential battle for the survival of the Lions."

Gatland also spoke about his disappointment around the 2017 tour in New Zealand. 

"One of the low points was the 2017 tour of New Zealand. Our two domestic finals were on Saturday, we assembled for the first time on Sunday, flew to New Zealand on Monday, arrived on Wednesday before our first game on Saturday. 

"What sort of preparation is that for what is meant to be the pinnacle for the players and one of the biggest tours in the rugby calendar?"

Gatland believes that the 2021 tour to South Africa should have been postponed for a year due to the covid pandemic. No supporters being allowed to travel took from a major part of what makes the tour as unique as it is.

"Going ahead with the tour without our supporters being able to travel and playing in front of empty stadiums was just wrong. It was not fair on the players, nor our supporters, who make the tours so special.

"I can understand there was external pressure coming on the Home Unions not to postpone, but for me that was a discussion and a debate that we should have had, but never did."

Gatland spoke about decisions that he made that did not go down well in the public arena, with one coming to the fore. His decision to drop Brian O'Driscoll for the third Test in their 2013 Series win in Australia left him open to huge criticism especially from Irish supporters. Gatland tells how it was a difficult decision but as a coach that is your job, to make those tough choices even if it leaves you open to criticism.

"I don’t expect players to always accept them, and sometimes as a coach you get decisions wrong. But I can put my hand on my heart and say I have always done what I thought was the best for the Lions."

Gatland believes in the Lions tour is a "unique experience". There is a challenge in creating an environment that is right to blend players from four nations but if a coach can get it right the rest takes care of itself.

Gatland has offered to help pass on his knowledge and experience he has gained from his Lions tours to the next coach. 

"If the next head coach wants to tap into my experiences from the last four tours, then I would still love to be involved in some way by passing on the knowledge and experience I have gained in trying to create harmony within a group of players from different backgrounds.

"For the Lions, it is the least I can do."

The search for a new British and Irish Lions Head Coach begins.