"A Huge Honour" - Steve Borthwick reacts to England assistant coach's Lions Tour call-up

Wednesday, 26 March 2025 at 15:59

byTom Sansom

England senior coach Richard Wigglesworth has been appointed as one of the assistant coaches for the upcoming British & Irish Lions tour of Australia. The announcement was made today, confirming Wigglesworth's role in head coach Andy Farrell's staff.

Wigglesworth will be part of a coaching team that includes Simon Easterby, John Fogarty, Andrew Goodman, and John Dalziel. The Lions' tour is set to commence with a match against Argentina in Dublin on June 20, followed by five warm-up games in Australia and three test matches against the Wallabies in July and August.

Expressing his enthusiasm, Wigglesworth stated, "I am delighted to be a part of the Lions and proud is an understatement to how I am feeling right now." He added, "I never got to play with Andy, but he was my coach at Saracens and England so I know his calibre and I am thoroughly looking forward to working with him."

Wigglesworth's coaching career began in 2019 as Canada's defence and kicking coach. He then served as Leicester Tigers’ attack coach while still playing, eventually becoming the club's interim head coach. In 2023, he joined England's coaching setup under Steve Borthwick and recently contributed to England's second-place finish in the 2025 Guinness Men’s Six Nations.

England head coach Steve Borthwick praised Wigglesworth’s appointment, saying, "Richard’s inclusion is a well-deserved recognition of his outstanding coaching and the success he’s achieved with England’s attack. Being involved in a Lions touring party is a huge honour, and we’re all incredibly proud to see him in Andy’s management team. I have no doubt he’ll continue to inspire and improve those around him in Australia."

Richard Wigglesworth, Attack Coach of England during the Six Nations Match between England and Wales at Twickenham, London on 10 February 2024 (Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK)

Head coach Andy Farrell emphasized the importance of versatility within the coaching staff, stating, "We have assembled a coaching team that we believe has the experience, skillset, and chemistry to get the best out of the players who are selected."

The Lions squad announcement is scheduled for May 8 in London. The tour will kick off against Argentina in Dublin on June 20, followed by five warm-up matches in Australia and three test matches against the Wallabies in July and August.

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THE PACKAGE INCLUDES

2 x Return flight tickets from the UK to Australia
2 x Tickets to watch the 2nd Test in Melbourne
2 x Tickets to watch the 3rd Test in Sydney
4 x Night’s accommodation in Melbourne with bed & breakfast (24-27 July)
7 x Night’s accommodation in Sydney with bed & breakfast (28 July-3 Aug)
2 x Flight tickets Melbourne to Sydney including airport hotel group transfers
2 x Tickets to watch a private function with Lions legends
Additional events to be announced

The winner will be part of the Lions supporters group with tour representatives on hand to oversee everything.

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The Coaches Speak:

John Dalziel (Scotland) shared his excitement, calling it a
“huge honour” to join the coaching ranks. He’s ready to face Argentina in Dublin, calling them “one of the form teams in the world right now.”
Simon Easterby (Ireland), who’s no stranger to Lions tours, reflected on his long journey, saying, “It doesn’t get any better than a Lions Tour. It’s been 20 years since I was part of it as a player, and now I’m back as a coach, ready for the challenge.”
John Fogarty (Ireland) admitted he was left “speechless” when Farrell called him up. He’s “incredibly proud” and can’t wait to get started, adding, “There’s something special about bringing the home nations and their supporters together."
Andrew Goodman (Ireland) had to take a moment to process the call from Farrell, saying it left him “shocked...excited—all the emotions.” He’s particularly thrilled to be working with both familiar faces and new ones in what promises to be “an exciting mix”.
Richard Wigglesworth (England) couldn’t hide his pride either, calling the appointment “an understatement” in terms of how good it feels to be part of the Lions set-up. He added, “When I got the call, I was on dad duty with my daughter. It was a special moment, and I’m looking forward to working with Farrell again.”