# Andy Farrell
**Andy Farrell** (born 1975) is an English rugby union coach and former dual-code player who has been head coach of the Ireland men's national team since 2019 and signed a contract extension on 5 June 2026 keeping him in the role through the 2031 [Rugby World Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/rugby-world-cup) in the United States.[1](https://www.irishrugby.ie/news/andy-farrell-signs-irfu-contract-extension) • [2](https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2026/0605/1576901-farrell-signs-new-irfu-contract-until-2031/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1975[3](https://www.lionsrugby.com/en/teams/mens-team/andy-farrell) |
| Current role | Ireland men's head coach, contracted through the 2031 Rugby World Cup[1](https://www.irishrugby.ie/news/andy-farrell-signs-irfu-contract-extension) |
| Previous deal | Agreed in December 2023, ran until after the 2027 Rugby World Cup[2](https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2026/0605/1576901-farrell-signs-new-irfu-contract-until-2031/) |
| Ireland honors | Two Six Nations titles (2023 Grand Slam, 2024), two Triple Crowns (2022, 2023), first-ever series win over New Zealand (2022)[3](https://www.lionsrugby.com/en/teams/mens-team/andy-farrell) |
| Individual honor | 2023 World Rugby Coach of the Year[3](https://www.lionsrugby.com/en/teams/mens-team/andy-farrell) |
| Lions involvement | Defence coach 2013 and 2017, head coach for the 2025 tour of Australia[3](https://www.lionsrugby.com/en/teams/mens-team/andy-farrell) |
| Playing career | 370 caps for Wigan, 34 for Great Britain, 11 for England in rugby league; 8 for England in rugby union[4](https://www.irishrugby.ie/staff/andy-farrell/) |
## Playing career
Farrell was a rugby league player who made his professional debut for Wigan at the age of 16 in a 32-8 victory over Keighley, and went on to make 370 appearances for the club between 1991 and 2004, winning six Championships and four Challenge Cups.[5](https://www.irishrugby.ie/2022/10/28/andy-farrell-inducted-into-mens-rugby-league-hall-of-fame/) He made his international debut for Great Britain at 18 against New Zealand and represented Great Britain 34 times and England 11 times, including the 1995 and 2000 World Cups.[5](https://www.irishrugby.ie/2022/10/28/andy-farrell-inducted-into-mens-rugby-league-hall-of-fame/) • [3](https://www.lionsrugby.com/en/teams/mens-team/andy-farrell) At 21 he became captain of both Wigan and Great Britain.[5](https://www.irishrugby.ie/2022/10/28/andy-farrell-inducted-into-mens-rugby-league-hall-of-fame/)
He switched to rugby union, joining Saracens, for whom he played 28 times, and earned eight caps for England in the 15-a-side code, including the 2007 World Cup.[3](https://www.lionsrugby.com/en/teams/mens-team/andy-farrell) In October 2022 he was inducted into the Rugby League Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Wigan.[5](https://www.irishrugby.ie/2022/10/28/andy-farrell-inducted-into-mens-rugby-league-hall-of-fame/)
## Coaching career
Farrell coached Saracens from 2010 to 2012, then served as England assistant coach from 2012 to 2015 under Stuart Lancaster.[3](https://www.lionsrugby.com/en/teams/mens-team/andy-farrell) He joined the Irish coaching setup in 2016 as defense coach under Joe Schmidt, and was part of Ireland's first-ever series win in Australia during the 2018 summer tour.[3](https://www.lionsrugby.com/en/teams/mens-team/andy-farrell) He was named head coach to succeed Schmidt after the [2019 Rugby World Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/2019-rugby-world-cup).[4](https://www.irishrugby.ie/staff/andy-farrell/)
While leading Ireland as head coach, Farrell has overseen Triple Crown triumphs in 2022 and 2023, the 2023 Six Nations Grand Slam, a further championship title in 2024, and the team's rise to the top of the [World Rugby](https://www.edgepedia.org/world-rugby) rankings. He also recorded a first-ever series win against New Zealand in the summer of 2022.[3](https://www.lionsrugby.com/en/teams/mens-team/andy-farrell) He was named 2023 World Rugby Coach of the Year.[3](https://www.lionsrugby.com/en/teams/mens-team/andy-farrell)
## British and Irish Lions
Farrell served as Lions defense coach under [Warren Gatland](https://www.edgepedia.org/warren-gatland) for the 2013 series win in Australia and the drawn series in New Zealand in 2017.[3](https://www.lionsrugby.com/en/teams/mens-team/andy-farrell) He was named head coach for the 2025 tour of Australia, a unanimous choice by a selection panel chaired by Lions CEO Ben Calveley and including Sir Ian McGeechan, Nigel Redman and [Brian O'Driscoll](https://www.edgepedia.org/brian-odriscoll).[3](https://www.lionsrugby.com/en/teams/mens-team/andy-farrell)
## Contract extension
On 5 June 2026 the IRFU announced that Farrell had signed a contract extension keeping him in charge through the conclusion of the 2031 Rugby World Cup in the United States, extending his previous deal by four years.[1](https://www.irishrugby.ie/news/andy-farrell-signs-irfu-contract-extension) • [2](https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2026/0605/1576901-farrell-signs-new-irfu-contract-until-2031/) The extension means he will lead Ireland into the next two Rugby World Cup cycles.[1](https://www.irishrugby.ie/news/andy-farrell-signs-irfu-contract-extension) In the period before the announcement he had been linked with the England head coach role and a possible return to Saracens.[2](https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2026/0605/1576901-farrell-signs-new-irfu-contract-until-2031/)
## References
1. [Andy Farrell Signs IRFU Contract Extension, Irish Rugby](https://www.irishrugby.ie/news/andy-farrell-signs-irfu-contract-extension)
2. [Farrell signs new IRFU contract until 2031, RTÉ](https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2026/0605/1576901-farrell-signs-new-irfu-contract-until-2031/)
3. [Andy Farrell - Lions Men, British & Irish Lions](https://www.lionsrugby.com/en/teams/mens-team/andy-farrell)
4. [Andy Farrell, Irish Rugby](https://www.irishrugby.ie/staff/andy-farrell/)
5. [Andy Farrell Inducted into Men's Rugby League Hall of Fame, Irish Rugby](https://www.irishrugby.ie/2022/10/28/andy-farrell-inducted-into-mens-rugby-league-hall-of-fame/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Rugby and other football codes › Rugby union players and personnel › Northern Hemisphere players*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license