Could Stuart Lancaster reunite with Andy Farrell?

Leinster coach Stuart Lancaster has revealed he will speak with future Ireland boss Andy Farrell about the possibility of reuniting as a team in 2020.

Farrell and Lancaster were part of an England coaching group that also included Graham Rowntree at the 2015 Rugby World Cup but ultimately they all lost their jobs after the host nation failed to progress from the pool stage, leaving the trio to look for employment elsewhere.

Farrell soon took a position with Ireland as Joe Schmidt’s assistant while Lancaster joined Leinster as part of Leo Cullen’s coaching team. And now it appears the duo could reform once Schmidt departs his job as head coach of the national side following the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

“It’s up to Andy to build his coaching team,” Lancaster said.

“The reality is he needs it to be ready by January 2020. I’ve not caught up with him since the announcement, I will do soon I’m sure and it will be up to him to shape that. I’ll have that conversation.

“He’s the right man for the job in my opinion. When Joe announced he was going there was only one person I felt was qualified to do the job and that was Andy.

“He’s sat as an assistant coach for eight years now. When you’re sat in that assistant coaching role you can learn a lot about what you would do when you get your chance and Andy has got the opportunity.”

Lancaster, who has also been linked with a return to England, added: “I was contracted in 2015 right through to 2019 as England coach and that didn’t obviously transpire through what happened in the World Cup.

“So as a consequence, I’ve given up planning too far ahead now, I’m going to concentrate on the here and now.

“Obviously, there’s a situation that I’m out of contract at the end of this year but I’m certainly not going ahead trying to plan the next five years of my career.

“I’m much more exercised in doing a really good job with Leinster, coaching as best as I can, and Leinster being successful.”