Andy Farrell has signed a two-year contract extension to stay as Ireland head coach till the tip of the 2027 World Cup.
Farrell made the announcement on the identical day that Rob Howley was appointed to Warren Gatland’s teaching workers for the Six Nations in his first involvement with Wales since being banned for breaching betting laws.
Ireland’s head coach mentioned: “Coaching [this team] has been a hugely enjoyable experience and I am proud to extend my association with the IRFU. It is a pleasure to work with such a talented and committed group of players and, as we enter a new cycle, it will be exciting to see more players come through the system.”
Farrell, who took up his current function in 2019 and is a number one contender for the top coach function on the British & Irish Lions tour of Australia in 2025, added: “There is a talented group of established internationals who are determined to succeed at international level for Ireland and I am excited to see how the last number of Ireland Under-20 squads will also emerge and challenge for international honours in the near future.
“It all makes for an exciting next chapter and it is one which my family and I are delighted to continue.”
Ireland misplaced to New Zealand within the quarter-final of this 12 months’s World Cup in France, having gone into the event ranked No 1 on this planet. Farrell had beforehand led Ireland in the summertime to a first-ever sequence win in New Zealand whereas additionally they received a grand slam earlier this 12 months.
Howley, in the meantime, served as Wales’ assault coach from 2008 to 2019 in a interval that included 4 Championship titles for the nationwide facet, three of them grand slams.
The former Lions scrum-half was compelled to take a break from rugby prior to the 2019 World Cup when his betting exercise got here to gentle, leading to an 18-month ban from the game, half of which was suspended.
He has returned to the fold as a “technical” coach in a job that additionally sees him concerned with the Wales Under-20 facet earlier than their Six Nations.
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“It feels to me like the time is right and I’m really looking forward to returning to the fold with Wales,” Howley mentioned. “I have a second opportunity to do a job I’ve dedicated my working life to and I’m grateful to everyone in Welsh rugby for their acceptance and their faith in me, it’s faith I intend to repay to the best of my ability.
“I have been through an extremely challenging time in my life. Speaking out and talking about it has enabled me to move forward.”
Jonathan Thomas’ departure as contact space coach created house in Gatland’s administration group, permitting Howley to hyperlink up with fellow assistants Mike Forshaw, Jonathan Humphreys, Neil Jenkins and Alex King.
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