Eire legend Johnny Sexton will function an assistant coach on Andy Farrell’s employees for the British & Irish Lions’ tour of Australia this summer season, the group introduced on Thursday.
In a separate announcement, Eire mentioned that Sexton will take up a full-time place with the nation’s union, beginning Aug. 1. He had been working part-time serving to Eire for this yr’s Six Nations, particularly the group’s fly-halves and with captain Caelan Doris.
“It guarantees to be an thrilling tour to Australia and I do know from expertise the challenges that await us,” Sexton mentioned in an announcement.
“Enjoying for the Lions was an enormous ambition of mine throughout my taking part in profession and my reminiscences of these excursions to Australia and New Zealand will stick with me perpetually.”
Sexton performed on the profitable Lions tour of Australia in 2013 in addition to the tour of New Zealand in 2017, making 14 appearances in complete.
He might be added to an Eire-dominated teaching employees, with Simon Easterby, Andrew Goodman and John Fogarty already in place together with Richard Wigglesworth and John Dalziel.
“I coached Johnny for the very first time throughout the 2013 Lions tour to Australia and the love that he had for The British & Irish Lions was mirrored in how he operated each day,” Farrell mentioned.
“His affect on that Lions group and that Collection win, our solely win within the final 24 years, shouldn’t be underestimated.
“His struggle and his dedication as a participant is one thing that he’ll carry to this Lions Tour and I do know that the gamers will relish his expertise and experience alongside all of our assistant coaches.”
The Lions play Argentina in Dublin on June 20 earlier than 5 warm-up matches in Australia and three assessments on July 19, July 26 and August 2.
The Lions gained their final sequence in Australia 2-1 in 2013 having misplaced the 2001 sequence 2-1.
Data from Reuters contributed to this story.
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