Ireland reveal new head coach

NEWS: The Irish Rugby Football Union revealed that forwards coach Paul O’Connell will take charge of Ireland on an interim basis for their July tour matches against Georgia and Portugal.

British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell stepped down from his role with Ireland temporarily at the end of last year to focus on the series against Australia, with Simon Easterby taking over during the Six Nations.

However, on Wednesday, Easterby was named in the B&I Lions coaching staff along with other members (scrum coach John Fogarty and attack coach Andrew Goodman) of the Ireland backroom team.

"Simon’s appointment means that an opportunity arises for a new interim head coach for the two-match tour to Georgia [July 5] and Portugal [July 12] and Paul O’Connell will assume the role for this tour," said IRFU Performance Director David Humphreys.

"On behalf of the IRFU, I would like to congratulate Simon [Easterby], John [Fogarty] and Andrew [Goodman] on their respective selections for the forthcoming British & Irish Lions tour to Australia.

"It is a huge statement of faith in their skill sets and standing within the wider game, and I have no doubt that they will contribute greatly to a successful Lions tour.

"Their appointments mark significant milestones in their coaching careers, as it will for Vinny Hammond and Aled Walters, who were previously confirmed earlier this year.

"They will proudly follow in the footsteps of a long list of Irish coaches who have represented Ireland previously with the Lions coaching and management teams.

"To head coach Andy Farrell and to all those players who will hopefully be selected in a few weeks, we wish them all the very best of luck."

Details around the remainder of the Ireland coaching team will be announced next week.