The British & Irish Lions have confirmed three key appointments to Head Coach Andy Farrell’s backroom team, with all of them having deep roots in the Irish Rugby system.
David Nucifora comes on board as General Manager, Performance – joining up with the touring group from Scottish Rugby, where he holds a similar role, having been Performance Director at Irish Rugby up until last year.
World Cup winner Aled Walters is appointed Head of Athletic Performance and joins from the Irish Rugby Football Union where he was appointed Head of Athletic Performance in August of last year.
And two-time Lions analyst Vinny Hammond, also a familiar face in the Irish Rugby coaches box, returns for his third Tour in the role of Head of Analysis.
With the 2025 Qatar Airways Lions Men’s Series in Australia now just five months away preparations are in full swing after Farrell took up his post in December.
“In David, Aled and Vinny we have three of the absolute best joining us for the Tour to Australia this summer, culminating in the highly anticipated Test series against the Wallabies,” said Farrell of his first coaching appointments.
“David’s unrivalled experience will help us shape and deliver such a challenging and exciting rugby programme, whilst also bringing essential insight into Australian rugby and the country as a whole.”
“Aled is a World Cup winner who has worked with players across England and Ireland and has also coached in Australia and Super Rugby with the Brumbies.”
“And Vinny’s Lions pedigree from touring New Zealand and South Africa brings continuity and Lions experience, which will be crucial to success down under.”
Former Wallaby hooker and Brumbies coach Nucifora joins on a consultancy basis and will be with the squad for the duration of the tour. Walters and Hammond will be joining on secondment from the IRFU at the end of the 2025 Guinness Six Nations.
Alongside Nucifora they accompanied Farrell on a successful recce to Australia this month where they toured the host cities, stadiums and training venues.
“The excitement for this year’s Tour to Australia is really starting to build across both hemispheres and as Andy shapes his backroom team that will only intensify,” said Lions CEO who joined us earlier this month for the Sport for Business Sporting Year Ahead event in Dublin.
“These roles would also not be possible without the support of our colleagues at Scottish Rugby and the IRFU who have helped facilitate these appointments.”
Farrell will finalise the rest of his backroom team after the 2025 Guinness Six Nations.
SPORT FOR BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE
Only one of the four is Irish but all have been part of the Irish Rugby ecosystem which is clearly showing its colours as an academy of coaching excellence.
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
The Guinness Six Nations stars on Friday night with France playing against Wales.
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