Andy Farrell has received a ringing endorsement from former team-mate and coach Denis Betts as he prepares to lead the British & Irish Lions into their Test series against Australia.
When Farrell was coming through the ranks as a teenager at his hometown club Wigan, Betts was already well established as one of the best back-rowers in world rugby league.
Betts, 55, was a key figure in the all-conquering Wigan side who won eight successive Challenge Cups between 1988 and 1995.
Remarkable career
Farrell, meanwhile, made his debut in 1991 aged 16 and became one of the greatest players of his generation before switching codes to join Saracens in 2005 and then embarking on a remarkable coaching career.
“From a very young age, Andrew was always a leader and a student of the game,” Betts told Planet Rugby.
“It’s never inevitable that he would go on to be as successful as he has been as a player and a coach because you have to work hard to put yourself in that situation.
“But it’s no surprise to see how far he’s come and where he is now – as head coach of the British & Irish Lions – is just fantastic.
“Talent is okay if you’ve not got hard work as part of your make-up.
“When you’re willing to match your talent with hard work like Andrew always has done, then that can be very powerful.
“It’s certainly been the case with him because he never wasted an ounce of his talent when he was a player and he’s shown the same kind of drive as a coach.
“I’m proud of my association with Andrew during our time together at Wigan.
“After playing together, he was my captain in the Wigan side that I coached for nearly a year and a half.
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“I’m very proud to call him my friend and to see him where he is now, ready to lead the British & Irish Lions into battle against Australia, is quite remarkable.
“It’s brilliant and, in coaching terms, it doesn’t get any bigger but like I say it’s testament to his talent, dedication and desire to succeed.
“Of course I’d back Andrew to come away with a series win against Australia this summer.”
Having begun his coaching career at Wigan, Betts switched codes to join Gloucester in 2006 as a skills coach before leaving in 2010.
“I absolutely loved my time at Gloucester,” he said.
“It was a really working-class environment and the fans are very similar to rugby league fans.
“It was a great time for me to learn and develop under Dean Ryan, a fantastic head coach and leader who I learnt so much from.
“Bryan Redpath was another exceptionally talented coach, and Carl Hogg was a real master of his craft. It was just brilliant.”
Betts is now back at Wigan as coach of their women’s team – leading them to Challenge Cup glory over St Helens at Wembley earlier this month – but remains close to the likes of Farrell and Shaun Edwards.
He added: “It’s great to see a number of lads who learnt their trade at Wigan go on to achieve great things in the coaching ranks.
Proud of Shaun Edwards
“I’m really proud of Shaun Edwards and I think it’s fantastic what he’s done and how much he’s achieved in his career.
“I’m massively proud to have been in the same team as Shaun and be associated with him.
“I’ve known Mike Forshaw as well since we were schoolboys because he’s the same age as me and we joined Wigan at the same time.
“He’s done great things as a rugby union coach as well so I’m really proud of what he’s achieved too.
“Wigan is an elite environment and an amazing breeding ground, so it’s no surprise that so many people who came through there have gone on to do so well for themselves.
“When you see guys like Farrell and Edwards, the inspire you and make you strive to be like them and be around them.”