NEW DEAL FOR ANDY
Farrell on board until 2025 as IRFU move fast to fend off potential suitors
BY
IRELAND boss Andy Farrell has signed a two-year contract extension that will make him the third highest paid coach in world rugby.
The Wigan-born supremo, who has inked a deal worth €650k per annum for the next three years, is now contacted to 2025.
Worldwide, only England’s Eddie Jones who earns €880k and France’s Fabien Galthie who pulls in €700k, earn more.
Farrell’s new salary also makes him Ireland’s highest paid coach. Stephen Kenny’s latest contract, finalised with the FAI last March, pays €500k per annum.
The deal comes as the IRFU moved swiftly following the victorious Ireland travelling party touching down on Irish soil and rumours swirled that England’s RFU were going to attempt to head-hunt their man.
Certainly, defeating the All Blacks in their own back yard for a first time in history, capping it by winning a series and, on the back of it, surging to world ranked no1, had the IRFU beaming.
But it had also alerted them to the potential traffic beating it’s way to the coach’s Sandymount door to check on his availability.
IRFU Performance Director David Nucifora admitted the fear of losing out moved negotiations forward.
“Andy is one of the outstanding coaches in world rugby,” said Nucifora, “a coach of Andy’s calibre is always going to be in high demand, and we are delighted that he has agreed to extend his contract with the IRFU.
“His work in leading the transition within the national team since the 2019 Rugby World Cup has been exceptional.
“Ireland are currently the number one ranked team in the world, an incredibly tough five match tour of New Zealand was a success on several levels and a Triple Crown was secured in the 2022 Six Nations Championship.
“This new deal, agreed (but not signed) prior to the Tour of New Zealand, allows us to plan beyond the 2023 Rugby World Cup with the certainty that one of the top coaching talents in the game is spearheading the national programme.”
Farrell has been with Ireland since 2016, initially as defence coach to Joe Schmidt’s Head coach.
Assuming the Head Coach’s top job following the RWC2019 debacle, he made some notable changes to the style and personnel.
Moreover Farrell advocated players taking control, off-loading and running as opposed to Schmidt’s proscribed style of set-plays for all positions on the field.
“I am happy to extend my contract with Irish Rugby for a further two years,” said Farrell as the ink dried yesterday.
“As a group we have made it clear that we are building towards the 2023 Rugby World Cup, and we have taken some decent strides in that regard in recent months.
“Ahead of the tour to New Zealand myself and David (Nucifora) looked at the opportunities and challenges facing the national squad after the tournament in France.
“I am excited about continuing to work with the group and with the next generation of Irish international players.”
IRFU CEO Kevin Potts added : “I am delighted to confirm that Andy Farrell has accepted a two-year contract extension as the head coach of our men’s international team.
“This will keep him at the helm until at least August 2025, and there is an option to extend the contract further, based on a number of mutually agreed performance markers.”