Richard Wigglesworth Joins Lions Coaching Staff: A New Era for British & Irish Rugby

Coaching Shakeup for Lions' Australia Tour

The British & Irish Lions have made a significant move in their coaching preparations for the 2025 Australia tour, with England's Richard Wigglesworth set to join Andy Farrell's backroom staff. This appointment comes as part of a broader strategy to blend coaching talent from across the Home Nations.

Ireland-Influenced Coaching Team Takes Shape

Lions head coach Andy Farrell is assembling a predominantly Ireland-influenced coaching group, with:

• Simon Easterby (Ireland's interim head coach) expected to join
• Andrew Goodman (Ireland attack coach) under consideration
• John Fogarty (scrum specialist) also in the mix

The core Lions coaching team will be officially confirmed later this week, following earlier appointments of:

• Aled Walters (Ireland strength and conditioning head)
• David Nucifora (former Ireland performance director)

Wigglesworth's Remarkable Coaching Journey

At just 41 years old, the former England scrum-half's rise through the coaching ranks has been meteoric:

1. Leicester Tigers: Began coaching while still playing (2020-2022)
2. Head Coach: Succeeded Steve Borthwick at Leicester (end of 2022)
3. England Staff: Joined national team setup (summer 2023)
4. Senior Coach: Promoted to lead role (October 2024)

Six Nations Form Influences Selection

England's strong Six Nations performance (2nd place behind France) likely contributed to Wigglesworth's selection. The team showed significant improvement after:

• Opening loss to Ireland
• Narrow victories over France and Scotland
• Dominant performances against Italy and Wales

Lions Tour Schedule Highlights

Key dates for the 2025 tour:

• Squad Announcement: May 8
• Opening Match: vs Argentina in Dublin (June 20)
• Australia Warm-ups: 5 preparatory matches
• Test Series:
  • 1st Test: Brisbane (July 19)
  • 2nd Test: Melbourne (July 26)
  • 3rd Test: Sydney (August 2)

This coaching appointment represents a strategic blend of experience and fresh thinking as the Lions prepare for their first tour of Australia since 2013.