Ireland head coach Farrell handed reins to become latest Lions king in 2025

ANDY FARRELL'S Lions ascent hands the Ireland boss the chance to become northern hemisphere Test rugby's king of one-upmanship.

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Farrell was being unveiled as the Lions' new head coach this lunchtime at a press conference in London to lead the tourists in Australia in 2025.

The 48-year-old has replaced longterm coach Warren Gatland as the new Lions boss to take on his latest mission impossible.

When Farrell picked up the Ireland baton from Joe Schmidt, he had to follow the nation's most successful boss. But where Schmidt took Ireland to a first-ever Test win over New Zealand, Farrell oversaw a maiden series victory in the Land of the Long White Cloud.

Quite how Farrell found a way to supersede Schmidt with Ireland could, in some respects, remain forever shrouded in a level of mystery.

As he takes on the near-mystic role of Lions supremo, however, there is absolutely no doubting he can repeat the feat on an altogether more exulted level. If Farrell can see Gatland's Lions achievements and raise them, he will hold all the trump cards in the Test game.

Gatland guided the Lions to a 2-1 series win in Australia in 2013 - and there is every chance Farrell can oversee a clean sweep of the Wallabies in 2025.