Photo: PA/David Davies
Steve Borthwick will not be available for consideration by the British and Irish Lions coaching team, but his England team assistants will be given the green light if they are selected by Andy Farrell, who will be confirmed as head coach for next year's tour of Australia on Thursday.
Farrell, the head coach of the Irish national team, will become the head coach of the Irish national team. the first Englishman to lead the Lions since Sir Clive Woodward toured New Zealand in 2005. Farrell will be unveiled at a press conference in London on Thursday.
Among his first tasks will be assembling a coaching team for the nine-game tour, which includes three Test matches against the Wallabies in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney in July and August It is understood that Borthwick, who was forwards coach during the Lions' 2017 tour of New Zealand, has ruled himself out of contention to focus on developing England at the start of the four-year World Cup cycle.
Borthwick's deputies, including Felix Jones, who has just joined the England coaching squad after being part of two World Cup-winning campaigns with South Africa, and attack coach Richard Wigglesworth, however, will be allowed on the tour if Farrell wants to take them .
It is believed that Borthwick sees the tour as an excellent opportunity for his young coaching team to develop their skills if required by Farrell, who is likely to need a combination of coaching input from each of the four home unions.
Gregor Townsend, head coach Scotland is also likely to be involved in the Lions coaching team, having played an influential role on the 2021 tour.
Richard Wigglesworth will be allowed to join Andy Farrell's Lions squad if he is selected. Photo: Getty Images/Steve Bardens
Farrell gained experience as a Lions assistant under Warren Gatland during the 2013 tours of Australia and again in New Zealand. four years later before he succeeded Joe Schmidt as Ireland head coach following the 2019 World Cup.
The Irish Rugby Football Union did not allow Farrell to be considered for the 2021 tour of South Africa because he took over as Ireland head coach too early, although the governing body confirmed in January last year that it had given him the green light to take part. was being considered for the head coaching position during the tour of Australia.
A Lions selection committee was established and Farrell emerged as the standout candidate, leading Ireland to number one in the world rankings last year, as well as winning the Grand Slam and Rugby Coach of the Year. In October, Gatland said he was not putting his name forward and had backed Farrell as his successor.
It appears Borthwick has made a personal decision to exclude himself from the controversy given the need for rebuilding work after the World Cup in France. . Eddie Jones, Borthwick's predecessor, was, by contrast, keen to be considered for the role of head coach of the 2021 tour when he received a two-year contract extension in 2017.
Simon Easterby is expected to take over duties as Ireland's interim head coach during Farrell's sabbatical, which could begin as early as the autumn Test series following Ireland's tour of South Africa this summer.
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