Simon Easterby to fill in as Ireland coach while Andy Farrell is with the Lions

Simon Easterby has been appointed to temporarily lead the Ireland national rugby team while Andy Farrell is engaged with the British and Irish Lions, as announced by the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) on Tuesday.

Farrell, the head coach of Ireland, will manage the team's matches in November against New Zealand, Argentina, Fiji, and Australia in Dublin before stepping away to prepare for the 2025 Lions series against the Wallabies.

Easterby, who currently serves as Ireland's defence coach, will assume leadership starting December 1. He will oversee the national team during the 2025 Six Nations and a subsequent tour, the specifics of which are yet to be determined.

"It is a tremendous honour to be asked to lead the Ireland team, and I am excited to accept this responsibility," stated the 49-year-old Easterby on the IRFU website.

The former Ireland flanker, who has earned 65 caps, remarked, "This represents the pinnacle of my coaching career thus far, and I eagerly anticipate collaborating with the skilled backroom staff and players while Andy is with the British and Irish Lions."

Easterby joined the Ireland coaching staff in 2014 and is set to manage the Emerging Ireland squad's tour of South Africa next month, having previously held this position in 2022.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed being part of the men's national team journey over the past decade, and I am confident that even greater achievements lie ahead as we prepare for an exciting few months," Easterby expressed.

"There is much at stake before December, and we are eager to offer the next generation of Irish players an opportunity to showcase their talents against formidable international opponents in South Africa, followed by four Autumn Nations Series matches at Aviva Stadium."

David Humphreys, the performance director of the IRFU, expressed his satisfaction in announcing Simon's promotion later this year, highlighting it as a testament to his development and esteemed position as a coach within the Ireland setup over the past decade.

Former England international Farrell has successfully led Ireland to consecutive Six Nations championships in 2023 and 2024, along with triumphs against all of the top teams in international rugby union, since taking over from Joe Schmidt after the 2019 World Cup.

His Lions squad is set to compete against an Australia team, which is under the guidance of Schmidt, in three Test matches scheduled for July 19 (Brisbane), July 26 (Melbourne), and August 2 (Sydney).