Ireland's Andy Farrell has claimed that he expects Ireland to kick on despite him not being there for the considerable future.
Farrell will now prepare for the upcoming British & Irish Lions tour in Australia next summer, which means that Ireland will no longer have him in charge for the Six Nations next spring and the summer tour next year.
Interim head coach Simon Easterby will take over the team in his place.
There is a lot of interest around Ireland without Andy Farrell and how they will fare without his guidance. The team has been extremely successful under his tutelage, but Farrell expects Ireland to treat the next few months in a professional manner, as they would if he were there, due to the support system he has around him.
“It’s certainly nothing to do with me why we just win trophies,” he said to a number of outlets this week. “We’ve always done it together, and the coaching staff that we’ve got are second to none, so that’s not changing. I’d expect us to kick on.
“The future is bright for me because we have the right people on the bus, so we’re excited about that.”
Head coach Andy Farrell (Photo By Seb Daly/Sportsfile via Getty Images)Farrell also revealed that extra support for Easterby may come if needed next summer.
“There certainly is scope there if we need it, whether we need it or not; that’s another story,” he added. “We tend to dovetail pretty well in all types of areas, and people will take responsibility not just for their own area but for helping their teammates out as well.
“So that’s all obviously been talked about over a long period, and we’re getting there with how we’re going to go about it.”
Ireland’s 2025 Six Nations fixtures are as follows: they face England at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin, on Saturday, 1st February, with a 4:45 pm kick-off.
They then take on Scotland at the Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, on Sunday, 9th February, at 3:00 pm. After this, they play Wales at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff, on Saturday, 22nd February, at 2:15 pm, before hosting France at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin, on Saturday, 8th March, at 2:15 pm.
They finish the tournament against Italy at Stadio Olimpico, Rome, on Saturday, 15th March, with a 2:15 pm kick-off.
Ireland’s 2025 Six Nations Fixtures:
- England—Aviva Stadium, Dublin: Saturday, 1st February, 4:45 pm
- Scotland: Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh: Sunday, 9th February, 3:00 pm
- Wales – Principality Stadium, Cardiff: Saturday, 22nd February, 2:15 pm
- France—Aviva Stadium, Dublin: Saturday, 8th March, 2:15 pm
- Italy: Stadio Olimpico, Rome: Saturday, 15th March, 2:15 pm
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