England coach Richard Wigglesworth to join Lions tour after Andy Farrell reprieve

England’s strong finish to their Six Nations Championship has been rewarded with a late call-up to the British and Irish Lions coaching team for Richard Wigglesworth.

Wigglesworth, who is England’s senior assistant coach, will join Andy Farrell’s coaching team for the tour of Australia this summer in what is expected to be a largely Irish-dominated panel.

Telegraph Sport revealed last week that Ireland interim head coach Simon Easterby had been recruited by Farrell, with John Fogarty and Andrew Goodman also frontrunners to feature in an Ireland-dominated Lions squad. Easterby previously acted as Farrell’s defence coach but has also served as forwards coach.

England were not expected to provide any coaches after head coach Steve Borthwick revealed that none of his assistants had been approached following his side’s victory over Wales in Cardiff nine days ago.

However, it is understood that Farrell made contact with the 41-year-old Wigglesworth following the record victory, which secured a second-place finish for England in the Six Nations, their highest since 2020.

It is not yet clear what position Wigglesworth will take up with the Lions, though his current role with England is to run the side’s attack. The former England scrum-half played under Farrell during their Saracens days when the Ireland head coach had just started his coaching career. Wigglesworth, who joined the club from Sale Sharks in 2010 the year Farrell took up coaching, also played under his tenure with England until the 2015 Rugby World Cup exit.

Farrell will unveil his coaching team on Wednesday. He has already appointed the Ireland strength and conditioning head Aled Walters and former Ireland performance director David Nucifora.

Speaking after England’s victory over Wales, Borthwick said: “Andy hasn’t talked about any of the coaching team at this stage. I’d love them to have the opportunity. I’d love as many of the management team as possible to have that.

“That Lions experience I had in 2017 was one of the best, if not the best, experience I’ve had in my life. Working with the best players from four different countries, working with incredible coaches against top-class opposition. I developed and learnt so much as a coach in that period, it was brilliant for me and accelerated my coaching, so I’d love as many other people from the England group to be in there as possible, and I’ll be fully supportive of them all.”

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.

2d 12:02 PM ET ago

Topics

Wigglesworth set to be part of Farrell’s British & Irish Lions coaching team

Coach benefited from England’s strong Six Nations finish Wigglesworth poised to join Irish-heavy backroom team Richard Wigglesworth is set to be a surprise inclusion on Andy Farrell’s coaching ...
The Guardian - 2d
England's Wigglesworth set to join Lions' coaches

England senior coach Richard Wigglesworth is set to join the British and Irish Lions coaching staff for the tour of Australia.
BBC News - 2d
Wigglesworth & Dalziel named on Lions coaching team

Scotland forwards coach John Dalziel and England assistant Richard Wigglesworth are confirmed as part of the British and Irish Lions coaching staff to take on Australia this summer.
BBC News - 18h
Farrell looks likely to overlook England coaches for his British Lions staff

Borthwick said backroom team not been approached Coaches set to miss out for second straight Lions tour Andy Farrell looks likely to overlook England’s assistants when selecting his British & ...
The Guardian - Mar. 16
Wigglesworth and Easterby named as assistant Lions coaches

Andy Farrell draws up 75-man longlist to face Australia Five-man backroom includes England’s attack coach Andy Farrell has revealed that an initial longlist of 75 players has been drawn up for ...
The Guardian - 16h
Andy Farrell to take Simon Easterby on Lions tour as part of Irish-dominated coaching team

Andy Farrell is set to appoint Simon Easterby to an Ireland-dominated Lions coaching team, Telegraph Sport understands, with no England assistants likely to make the tour to Australia.
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 16
Andy Farrell reveals ‘75-man’ longlist for Lions tour and Irish core in coaching team

Lions head coach Andy Farrell has turned to three of his assistants from the Irish set-up – Simon Easterby, Andrew Goodman and John Fogarty – to form the spine of his coaching team for the tour to ...
Yahoo Sports - 13h
Vibrant Six Nations leaves Andy Farrell with tricky decisions on Lions selection

England finished strong while Ireland appear to be fading, but the head coach must avoid an over-reliance on recency bias. The streets of Cardiff on Saturday night made the last days of the Roman ...
The Guardian - Mar. 17
Lions may strike deal for Top 14 stars - Farrell

Head coach Andy Farrell says the British and Irish Lions may try to strike deals to free up leading Top 14 players to join the tour early.
BBC News - 12h