REPORTS: Andy Farrell set to take up Lions coaching role

According to a report by irishtimes, Andy Farrell is now expected to join the British & Irish Lions tour in time for the Test series against the Springboks in light of Ireland’s tour to Fiji not going ahead.

Farrell was the defence coach on the Lions’ tours to Australia in 2013 and New Zealand in 2017 under Gatland. 

On foot of naming Gregor Townsend, Steve Tandy, Robin McBryde and Neil Jenkins as his assistants in April, Gatland addressed the specific possibility of Farrell joining the tour at a later date and said: “Yeah it’s possible, it’s why we’ve left one of the spots open.

"Whoever it is, do we feel like we need someone else to come in, is it at the start of the tour, during the tour, before the Test matches take place? I haven’t been specific about a role but it’s something I want to have the possibility of being able to do if we feel there’s a need for it.”