Andy Farrell: Easy decision to sign new contract, says Ireland head coach

Andy Farrell said signing a new Ireland contract was an easy decision after he penned a four-year extension to lead the team until 2031.

The 51-year-old’s previous deal was due to expire after the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, but his extension will take him up until the end of the tournament in the United States four years later.

Since succeeding Joe Schmidt in 2019, Farrell has led Ireland to two Six Nations titles, including the 2023 Grand Slam, and a historic Test series win over the All Blacks in New Zealand.

“Yes, it was,” Farrell told IrishRugby TV when asked if it was an easy decision.

“To be asked, it means a lot because it means a little bit of what you do is appreciated. But to get to this point, there’s so many people that have helped us get to this point.”

Farrell had been linked with Saracens and England before committing his future to Ireland.

Farrell’s side have Nations Championship fixtures in July and November before attempting to reclaim the Six Nations title next year.

After that, Farrell hopes to lead Ireland past the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time having suffered an agonising last-eight exit at the hands of New Zealand in Paris three years ago.

“If you look at what we’ve got coming ahead, a summer tour to the southern hemisphere [to face Australia, Japan and New Zealand in July],” he added.

“There’s some of our lads who’ve been there, obviously, but there’ll be a lot of lads boarding that plane who won’t have had that experience.

“There’s a lot of firsts that are constantly going to happen, the Six Nations and then into the World Cup. What a year, what an 18 months that’s going to be.”