Easterby to be Ireland interim head coach in 2025

Simon Easterby has said that leading Ireland on an interim basis next year will be the "highest achievement" of his coaching career.

Easterby will take charge of the back-to-back Six Nations winners while current boss Andy Farrell is on a sabbatical to coach the British and Irish Lions in Australia next summer.

Farrell will remain in post for this year's autumn fixtures, when Ireland will host the All Blacks, Argentina, Fiji and Australia, before his focus turns to preparing for the Wallabies of his former boss Joe Schmidt.

Easterby, who will also lead an Emerging Ireland tour of South Africa next month, will then take charge during the 2025 Six Nations and a summer tour.

"To be asked to lead the Ireland team is a huge honour and one that I am thrilled to accept," said the former flanker.

Easterby has been a part of Ireland's coaching ticket since 2014 when he left the Scarlets to come on board as Schmidt's forwards coach, switching to defensive specialist in 2021 when Farrell assumed the top job.

"I have greatly enjoyed being a part of the men's national team journey over the last 10 years and I believe that there are even brighter days ahead as we build towards a huge few months," he added.

"There’s a lot to play for before December and we’re looking forward to providing the next crop of future Irish players with a chance to impress against talented international opponents in South Africa and then across the four Autumn Nations Series matches at Aviva Stadium."