British and Irish Lions: Andy Farrell confirms backroom appointments including former Wallaby David Nucifora

British and Irish Lions: Andy Farrell confirms backroom appointments including former Wallaby David Nucifora

British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell has confirmed the appointments of three of his backroom team for the summer tour to face Australia, with former Wallaby David Nucifora among them. 

Nucifora joins the set-up as general manager, having worked in a similar position with the IRFU in Ireland for a decade between 2014 and 2024, and then taken up a comparable position with Scotland last summer.

Welshman Aled Walters has been appointed as head of athletic performance from the IRFU, having previously worked with South Africa and England.

Irishman Vinny Hammond also joins from the IRFU as head of analysis, having previously toured as a Lions analyst in 2017 and 2021.

"In David, Aled and Vinny we have three of the absolute best joining us for the tour to Australia this summer, culminating in the highly-anticipated Test series against the Wallabies," Farrell said.

"David's unrivalled experience will help us shape and deliver such a challenging and exciting rugby programme, while also bringing essential insight into Australian rugby and the country as a whole.

"Aled is a World Cup winner who has worked with players across England and Ireland and has also coached in Australia and Super Rugby with the Brumbies.

"And Vinny's Lions pedigree from touring New Zealand and South Africa brings continuity and Lions experience, which will be crucial to success down under."

Former Wallaby hooker and Brumbies coach Nucifora joins on a consultancy basis and will be with the squad for the duration of the tour.

Nucifora said: "Having watched the Lions tour Australia over the years, and then playing against them for a Queensland XV in 1989, never did I expect that one day I would be part of their team - but it is funny how sport works.

"I look forward to drawing on my experiences with Ireland and Scotland in supporting Andy as he goes about building a truly world-class backroom team and squad."

Walters said: "The Lions is the absolute pinnacle and my earliest memory of them was watching the 1989 Australia tour as an eight-year-old and celebrating Ieuan Evans' try in the third Test.

"It is true that there is no greater honour than being selected for a Lions tour and I cannot wait to work with the very best players and coaches as we take on the Wallabies and tour Australia."

Hammond added: "The Lions has an incredibly special place in my heart, having toured New Zealand in 2017 and then South Africa in 2021.

"Being part of the Lions is the ultimate honour and it was a real privilege to be asked by Andy to lead the analysis team for 2025. Our focus now is on doing everything we can to win a Test series."

Lions CEO Ben Calveley added: "It is my pleasure to welcome David, Aled and Vinny to the Lions.

"The excitement for this year's tour to Australia is really starting to build across both hemispheres and as Andy shapes his backroom team that will only intensify.

"These roles would also not be possible without the support of our colleagues at Scottish Rugby and the IRFU who have helped facilitate these appointments."

The Lions have confirmed Farrell will finalise the rest of his backroom team after the 2025 Six Nations.

Sky Sports will exclusively show the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour of Australia - all tour matches and Tests live