Johnny Sexton joins British & Irish Lions as assistant coach for 2025 summer time collection in Australia | Rugby Union Information

Johnny Sexton has been appointed as an assistant coach for the British & Irish Lions for this summer time’s Australia tour.

The previous Eire out-half performed 14 instances throughout two separate Excursions for the Lions, beginning all three Assessments towards the Wallabies in 2013, when the Lions ran out 2-1 winners, earlier than additionally competing towards the All Blacks within the drawn 2017 collection.

“I’m massively excited to proceed the following chapter in my teaching journey with The British & Irish Lions and I wish to thank Andy for this unimaginable alternative,” stated Sexton.

“It guarantees to be an thrilling tour to Australia and I do know from expertise the challenges that await us.

“Enjoying for the Lions was an enormous ambition of mine throughout my enjoying profession and my reminiscences of these Excursions to Australia and New Zealand will stick with me perpetually.”

Sexton recorded 118 caps as Eire’s main factors scorer earlier than ending his worldwide profession following the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

The 39-year-old will even take up a full-time place with the Irish Rugby Soccer Union (IRFU) from August 1, having been concerned with the lads’s squad in a part-time function because the 2024 Autumn Nations.

“I’m excited to affix the IRFU on a full time foundation and am extraordinarily passionate concerning the alternative to work with present and future gamers.

“I have been extraordinarily lucky to have nice coaches, who nurtured and developed my expertise, and I’m eager to share my experiences with the following era and assist them obtain their objectives.

“The extent of funding and concentrate on the pathways in Eire is actually encouraging and I imagine the longer term is actually vivid for males’s and ladies’s rugby in Eire.”

The Lions are primed to face Argentina in Dublin on June 20 earlier than heading to Australia the place they’ll face the Wallabies on July 19, July 26 and August 2.

“I coached Johnny for the very first time in the course of the 2013 Tour to Australia and the love that he had for The British and Irish Lions was mirrored in how he operated every day,” stated Farrell.

“His affect on that Lions crew and that collection win, our solely win within the final 24 years, can’t be underestimated.

“His combat and his dedication as a participant is one thing that he’ll convey to this Lions Tour and I do know that the gamers will relish his expertise and experience alongside all of our assistant coaches. It’s a vital coup to nominate somebody of Johnny’s standing and expertise within the sport and I’m delighted to proceed my lengthy affiliation with him.

“It was clear from working collectively in the course of the latest Autumn Nations Collection that he has the expertise and skillset so as to add to our teaching crew with Eire and I understand how pushed he’s so as to add to the Lions, firstly this summer time, after which on a full-time foundation with Eire later this yr. I look ahead to working collectively over the approaching months and want him properly on this new chapter in his teaching profession.”