Andy Farrell appears set to exclude England’s assistant coaches from his British & Irish Lions staff, with Steve Borthwick confirming that no approaches have been made regarding his backroom team.
Following England’s emphatic win against Wales to secure second place in the Six Nations, Borthwick expressed his desire to see as many of his players selected for the Lions squad when Farrell announces it on May 8. He also backed Maro Itoje as a potential captain. However, with Farrell expected to reveal his coaching team in the coming days, England’s assistants Richard Wigglesworth, Tom Harrison, Kevin Sinfield, Joe El-Abd, and Andrew Strawbridge are all unlikely to be included, marking the second consecutive Lions tour where England’s coaches have been overlooked.
Wigglesworth and Harrison have gained recognition during the Six Nations, with England’s attacking game flourishing and their scrum showing significant improvements. Despite their progress, Farrell seems set to look elsewhere when assembling his coaching team.
Borthwick, who was part of the Lions coaching staff in 2017, reflected on the value of that experience, saying it had been one of the most important of his career. He emphasized that working alongside top players from different nations and learning from other elite coaches helped accelerate his development. He expressed his support for any England staff members who might be considered, though no invitations appear to have been extended.
While England’s coaching staff may not be involved, the national side is expected to contribute several players to the Lions squad. With four wins from five matches in the championship, standout performers such as the Curry brothers, Ben Earl, Will Stuart, Fin Smith, Alex Mitchell, and Tommy Freeman have played their way into contention.
All England players selected for the tour will be required to take a mandatory 10-week rest period afterward. As a result, they will miss the first two rounds of the Premiership season but return in time for three league matches before the autumn internationals. England is set for a busy autumn with four Test matches, though no restrictions are currently planned regarding player availability, allowing for careful workload management.
Borthwick has maintained communication with Farrell in recent weeks and will continue discussions in the lead-up to the squad announcement. He has personally assessed potential selections multiple times, producing different numbers on each occasion. Despite the uncertainty, his priority remains securing as many England representatives as possible for the tour, knowing they will return as improved players.
Planning is already underway for England’s summer tour of Argentina and the US, with contingency measures in place to cover for those selected by the Lions. Borthwick’s staff will ensure depth across all positions, requiring club performances to be at a high level to push cases for inclusion.
