The British and Irish coach of Lion, Andy Farrell has confirmed the appointments of his three back room team for the summer tour to face Australia, with former Wallaby David Nucifers among them.
Nucifers joined the configuration as a general manager, after working in a position similar to IRFU in Ireland for a decade between 2014 and 2024, and then took a position comparable to Scotland last summer.
Walesian Alex Walters has been appointed as chief of athletic performance by Irfu, having previously worked with South Africa and England.
Irishman Vinny Hammond also joins Irfu as chief of analysis, having previously visited as a lion analyst in 2017 and 2021.
“In David, ALED and Vinny we have three of the absolute best that joins us for the tournament in Australia this summer, culminating in the long -awaited series of evidence against Wallabies,” Farrell said.
“David’s incomparable experience will help us form and offer such a challenging and exciting Rugby program, also bringing an essential overview of the Australian Rugby and the country as a whole.
“ALED is a World Cup winner who has worked with players throughout England and Ireland and also trained in Australia and Super Rugby with Brumbies.
“And the origin of Vinny’s Lions from the tournament in New Zealand and South Africa brings the Lion’s continuity and experience, which will be essential to success down.”
Former Walraby Hooker and Brumbie Nucifora coach joins consulting bases and will be with the team for the duration of the tournament.
Nucifers said: “After watching Lions Tour Australia over the years, and then playing against them for a Queensland XV in 1989, I never expected to one day be part of their team – but it’s funny how sports work.
“I look forward to attracting my experiences with Ireland and Scotland to Andy’s support as he goes to build a truly world class and team team.”
Walters said: “Lions are the absolute peak and my early memory was the viewing of the 1989 Australia tour as an eight year old and celebrating the test of Ieuan Evans in the third test.
“It is true that there is no greater honor than to choose for a lion tour and I cannot expect to work with players and coaches much better while we get in Wallabies and Tour Australia.”
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Need motivation? Check out Farrell’s passionate speech when he was the Defense Coach during the 2013 Lion Tournament
Hammond added: “The lions have a very special place in my heart after visiting New Zealand in 2017 and then South Africa in 2021.
“Being part of the Lion is the last honor and it was a true privilege to ask Andy to run the analysis team for 2025. Our focus is to do everything we can to win a series of tests.”
Lion’s general manager Ben Calveley added: “Pleasures my pleasure of welcoming David, Alex and Vinny in Lions.
“This year’s tournament in Australia is starting to build in both hemispheres and after Andy forms its back room team that will only intensify.
“These roles would also not be possible without the support of our colleagues in Rugby Scottish and Irfu who have helped facilitate these appointments.”
Lions have confirmed that Farrell will complete the rest of his back room team after 2025 SIX Nations.
Sky Sports will exclusively show the 2025 British tournament and Ireland Lions in Australia – all tour matches and live tests
