Andy Farrell’s performance at the helm of the British and Irish Lions has been backed by Ben Calveley, chief executive. Farrell has guided the Lions to their first series win since 2013, with the 22-12 defeat to the Wallabies in Sydney as the only blemish on their nine-match visit to Australia.
Despite not achieving the sweep, the 50-year-old Irish coach has led a successful tour, highlighted by his results, team cohesion, his commitment to the game, and the character shown in winning the second Test in the final seconds.
Planning for 2029 is already underway, with Calveley promising a structure and number of matches similar to the recently concluded itinerary. Special attention will be paid to the last midweek match due to the disruptions it causes in Test preparation.
Farrell is the favorite to lead that expedition, and Calveley suggests that the most coveted position in British and Irish rugby is currently his to lose.Joe Schmidt habla sobre la admiración que siente por su equipo de Australia tras su victoria por 22-12 sobre los Lions, a pesar de perder la serie.
“Andy has done an incredible job and I have really enjoyed working with him”, said Calveley.
Ben Calveley
Calveley added: “When it comes to our appointments for future tours, we will begin the process in about two years and I don’t think it’s right to comment on where it ends. But he has certainly put himself in a very strong position, let’s say”. El entrenador de los British and Irish Lions, Andy Farrell, dice que a pesar de perder el tercer partido de prueba contra Australia, deberían estar “realmente orgullosos” de ganar la serie.The defeat in Brisbane was an inauspicious start, but at the Melbourne Cricket Ground they were 51 seconds away from tying the series before emerging as emphatic winners on Saturday.
The Lions won the series by an aggregate score of only 68-67, and their opponents led for longer in the three Tests.
Considering the profits that are “significantly higher than anything we’ve seen in the past”, it’s clear that the Wallabies will remain rivals for the elite of British and Irish rugby.
“I would love to return to Australia. I know there has been a lot of speculation about whether that would be the case or not, but we’ve had a wonderful tour here,” said Calveley.
“It’s 100% our ambition to return and we would like the next one to be bigger and better than this one.”
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The Lions are seen as potentially vulnerable to the proposed new breakaway R360 league, but Calveley insists that their drawing power remains as strong as ever.
“They’ve seen these quotes coming from players at every stage of the tour, and they’re absolutely still committed to the Lions,” he said.
“We all know that we have our place on the calendar integrated into regulation 9 and I don’t see that changing in the future.”
“Our relationship with professional gaming is better than ever and I see that continuing in the future.”
