Skinner set for Edinburgh return and timing could be right for Scots

ons in October but aggravated the injury in the warm-up.

“It was my knee. I carried it through the World Cup a little bit, it’s just the nature of these things,” Skinner said. “Then I came back, feeling good, but it just blew up in training. It was a bit of a complicated one but we finally got there in the end.

“The last time I played was the Romania game. I was due toplayinthedragonsgamebut I pulled up in the warm-up and it’s been a really bizarre period but these things happen.

“I started training a couple of weeks ago and, in theory, I was fit for selection for the secmost

of the two Glasgow games but I wasn’t running around like a professional athlete – in terms of the mechanics, rather than fitness – but this week I’m feeling like I can really apply myself which is a great feeling because it’s been a challenging period.

“I feel back to my normal self to be honest. Got the body MOT’D properly and we’re ready to go again which is amazing. It feels great to be training with the lads and being able to apply myself 100 per cent. It’s a good feeling.”

While making up for lost time with Edinburgh is uppersam in Skinner’s mind, the versatile back-five forward would be forgiven for letting his thoughts stray to the Six Nations. Gregor Townsend is due to name his Scotland squad next week which means he has one game to impress the national coach. “Exactly,” said Skinner when it was put to him.

Time may not be on his side but Skinner has enough credit in the bank with Townsend to suggest he will be involved in the forthcoming campaign where his ability to play at lock or in the back row is likely to be an attractive asset.

Andy Farrell is expected to be named British and Irish Lions head coach for the 2025 tour to Australia today.

A month after agreeing a contract to remain in charge of Ireland until the end of the 2027 World Cup, Farrell is set to be confirmed as Warren Gatland’s successor in the Lions role at a lunchtime press conference in central London.

The 48-year-old Englishman is seen as the outstanding candidate for one of the game’s most prestigious posts, having masterminded last year’s Grand Slam and an historic 2-1 series victory in New Zealand in 2022.

Ireland also enjoyed a lengthy stay at the summit of the world rankings under his guidance until they were forced into second place by repeat World Cup winners South Africa last autumn.

Farrell would be leading the Lions for the first time, having impressed as an assistant coach under Gatland on the 2013 and 2017 tours, and his appointment would have the blessing of the Irish Rugby Football Union.

“We’d be ecstatic if Andy was named coach of the Lions so hopefully that accolade is the next one for him,” IRFU performance director David Nucifora said in December.

In addition to his management credentials, Farrell has the benefit of coaching the nation that is expected to provide the bulk of the touring party unless England, Scotland or Wales threaten Ireland’s ascendancy over the next 18 months.

The dual code international won eight caps as a centre in 2007 following his move from Wigan rugby league club and then moved into coaching, first with Saracens and then with England, serving as an assistant under Stuart Lancaster.

He joined Ireland after the 2015 World Cup and succeeded Joe Schmidt as their head coach four years later.

An inspirational figure, he

Ireland coach Andy Farrell