Andrew Goodman is promising fun on and off the field as he prepares for his first British & Irish Lions Tour.

The New Zealander was announced as one of Andy Farrell’s Assistant Coaches alongside John Dalziel, Simon Easterby, John Fogarty and Richard Wigglesworth.

Goodman joined Ireland as backs coach last summer after a two-year stint as Leinster assistant coach, and helped Ireland to a third-place finish in the 2025 Guinness Six Nations.

As a player, Goodman spent two seasons with Leinster between 2012 and 2014, winning the Celtic League and Challenge Cup, and also played for Tasman in New Zealand and Honda Heat in Japan.

Goodman started coaching in 2015 as head of the rugby academy at Nelson College, before stints as head coach at Tasman and assistant coach to Super Rugby powerhouse the Crusaders, whom he helped to the 2022 title before joining Leinster coaching team.

He was also part of Samoa’s coaching team at the 2023 Rugby World Cup

Goodman said: “When Andy phoned up, I was silent for about 30 seconds and he even asked if I was still there.

“I was shocked, excited - all the emotions. It was pretty special calling my family back home in New Zealand.

“And it’s been exciting to meet some new faces in John (Dalziel) and Richard (Wigglesworth) and there is that continuity, too, with the guys I have worked with over the last period.

“It is an exciting mix and there will be a different dynamic of a big Tour. The key is making sure everyone is connected and they have great craic off the field too.”