Easy decision to sign new Ireland deal - Farrell
If Farrell sees out his new contract, he will have led Ireland through three World Cup campaigns
- Published
Andy Farrell said signing a new Ireland contract was an easy decision after he penned a four-year extension to lead the team until 2031.
The 51-year-old's previous deal was due to expire after the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, but his extension will take him up until the end of the tournament in the United States four years later.
Since succeeding Joe Schmidt in 2019, Farrell has led Ireland to two Six Nations titles, including the 2023 Grand Slam, and a historic Test series win over the All Blacks in New Zealand.
"Yes, it was," Farrell told IrishRugby TV when asked if it was an easy decision.
"To be asked, it means a lot because it means a little bit of what you do is appreciated. But to get to this point, there's so many people that have helped us get to this point."
Farrell had been linked with Saracens and England before committing his future to Ireland.
Farrell's side have Nations Championship fixtures in July and November before attempting to reclaim the Six Nations title next year.
After that, Farrell hopes to lead Ireland past the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time having suffered an agonising last-eight exit at the hands of New Zealand in Paris three years ago.
"If you look at what we've got coming ahead, a summer tour to the southern hemisphere [to face Australia, Japan and New Zealand in July]," he added.
"There's some of our lads who've been there, obviously, but there'll be a lot of lads boarding that plane who won't have had that experience.
"There's a lot of firsts that are constantly going to happen, the Six Nations and then into the World Cup. What a year, what an 18 months that's going to be."
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Farrell also said he is excited about "growing the group again" - and that is the challenge he faces: taking Ireland to the next level so they avoid more World Cup agony.
Signs of an evolving Ireland squad were at least evident during the Six Nations.
Tommy O'Brien and Robert Baloucoune injected much-needed pace into the attack and Stuart McCloskey established himself as a pivotal figure in midfield.
With his new deal tying him down for the next five years, Farrell will lose a significant number of his most trusted on-field lieutenants during this new chapter.
For the likes of Tadhg Furlong (33), Tadhg Beirne (34), Josh van der Flier (33), Jack Conan (33), Bundee Aki (36), McCloskey (33), Jamison Gibson-Park (34) and Robbie Henshaw (33), next year's World Cup in Australia will surely be the last chance to claim rugby's ultimate prize.
He also may not have the services of James Lowe - a Farrell favourite in recent years - with the 33-year-old winger's Leinster future still unresolved.
It highlights both the desperation they will have to succeed at the World Cup in Australia and the scale of the rebuild facing Farrell heading into the pre-USA cycle.
But the Englishman has dealt with significant squad changes in the past, not least the retirement of captains Johnny Sexton and Peter O'Mahony and stalwarts such as Conor Murray, Cian Healy and Keith Earls.
For now, Farrell has been given a huge vote of confidence by his bosses at the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU).
With noise surrounding his future set to disappear for the time being, he can focus on the next six months when he and his squad will attempt to land a psychological blow on the All Blacks and Springboks a year out from the World Cup.
