England coach set for shock exit with immediate effect
Yesterday at 04:17 PM
Andy Farrell is gearing up to reveal his coaching lineup for this summer's British & Irish Lions tour, and it looks like England senior coach Richard Wigglesworth is about to get the call-up.
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Despite earlier hints that England's coaching staff might be left behind, Farrell has swooped in to secure Wigglesworth's expertise for the trip to Australia, according to The Guardian.
Wigglesworth's Stock on the Rise
Wigglesworth, who masterminds England's attack, saw his reputation soar during the Six Nations. Under his guidance, Steve Borthwick's side notched up four consecutive wins and bagged 25 tries — including a 10-try blitz in their 68-14 demolition of Wales in Cardiff. Not bad for a man once better known for his pinpoint box kicks.
From Scrum-Half to Mastermind
Wigglesworth's playing career was nothing short of stellar. A sharp-minded scrum-half, he enjoyed a 20-year career at the top of English rugby, making 449 club appearances — a Premiership record. He started at Sale Sharks, where he helped them secure the 2006 Premiership title before moving to Saracens, where he became a key figure in their golden era.
During his time with Saracens, Wigglesworth lifted five Premiership titles and three European Champions Cups, solidifying his reputation as one of the game's most astute playmakers. His international career saw him earn 33 caps for England between 2008 and 2018, including appearances at the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
A Familiar Face for Farrell
Farrell and Wigglesworth go way back. The Ireland head coach briefly worked with him at Saracens and again during their England days under Stuart Lancaster. Now, Wigglesworth is set to be the first England coach on a Lions tour since Borthwick joined Warren Gatland's staff in 2017. And this time, he's going with Borthwick's full blessing.
Borthwick's U-Turn?
After England's rout of Wales, Borthwick insisted Farrell hadn't asked to borrow any of his coaches, suggesting that England's staff might be overlooked. But things have changed behind the scenes, and Farrell has now moved swiftly to bring Wigglesworth into the Lions setup.
Huge Step for Wigglesworth's Coaching Journey
For Wigglesworth, this marks a significant milestone. After taking over at Leicester when Borthwick departed for England in December 2022, he reunited with his former boss ahead of the 2023 World Cup. Initially tasked with overseeing the attack, Wigglesworth was promoted to senior coach last October after the shock exits of Felix Jones and Aled Walters.
With his vast experience as a player and a fast-rising coaching career, Wigglesworth is perfectly placed to make a big impact on the Lions' Australian adventure.
WIN A TRIP TO THE 2025 LIONS:
HE PACKAGE INCLUDES
- 2 x Return flight tickets from the UK to Australia
- 2 x Tickets to watch the 2nd Test in Melbourne
- 2 x Tickets to watch the 3rd Test in Sydney
- 4 x Night's accommodation in Melbourne with bed & breakfast (24-27 July)
- 7 x Night's accommodation in Sydney with bed & breakfast (28 July-3 Aug)
- 2 x Flight tickets Melbourne to Sydney including airport hotel group transfers
- 2 x Tickets to watch a private function with Lions legends
- Additional events to be announced
The winner will be part of the Lions supporters group with tour representatives on hand to oversee everything.
2025 British & Irish Lions Squad: Bookies' Predictions for the Tour
With the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia fast approaching, the bookmakers have released their early odds on who will make the squad.
While a lot can change between now and the final selection, these odds give a strong indication of who the bookies believe will be donning the famous red jersey next summer.
The bolded players in our proposed Lions squad represent the starting XV, according to current odds.
2025 BRITISH & IRISH LIONS SQUAD (36)
BACK-THREE (6)
- Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland) – 1/16
- James Lowe (Ireland) – 1/8
- Hugo Keenan (Ireland) – 1/5
- Tommy Freeman (England) – 4/9
- Blair Kinghorn (Scotland) – 8/11
- Darcy Graham (Scotland) – 2/1
CENTRE (4)
- Bundee Aki (Ireland) – 1/5
- Ollie Lawrence (England) – 1/4
- Sione Tuipulotu (Scotland) – 2/7
- Robbie Henshaw (Ireland) – 8/11
FLY-HALVES (3)
- Fin Russell (Scotland) – 1/10
- Fin Smith (England) – 8/15
- Sam Prendergast (Ireland) – 8/11
CONTINUES ON PAGE TWO
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