{"id":180401,"date":"2025-06-13T06:32:08","date_gmt":"2025-06-13T06:32:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/180401\/"},"modified":"2025-06-13T06:32:08","modified_gmt":"2025-06-13T06:32:08","slug":"new-british-irish-lions-coach-is-married-to-popular-rugby-presenter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/180401\/","title":{"rendered":"New British & Irish Lions coach is married to popular rugby presenter"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lions Confirm Major Coaching Addition as Simon Easterby Reunites with Andy Farrell for 2025 Tour<\/strong><\/p>\n

Simon Easterby is back in Lions red \u2013 and he\u2019s not coming alone. The former flanker is set to link up once again with Ireland boss Andy Farrell, this time as part of the coaching ticket for the British & Irish Lions\u2019 blockbuster 2025 tour of Australia.<\/p>\n

RUCK\u2019s Lions content is\u00a0powered by\u00a0ISUZU<\/strong>.<\/a><\/p>\n

Easterby, who earned two caps on the 2005 tour of New Zealand, will step away from his role as Ireland head coach after the 2024 Autumn Nations Series, making way for this exciting new chapter.<\/p>\n

Known for his gritty edge and deep rugby IQ, Easterby adds steel to an already heavyweight coaching team. <\/p>\n

He joins forces with Richard Wigglesworth, John Dalziel, Andrew Goodman, and John Fogarty \u2013 a lineup that\u2019s already being tipped as a potential game-changer in the quest for Lions glory Down Under.<\/p>\n

From Triple Crown to Lions crown<\/strong><\/p>\n

Easterby has been an integral cog in Ireland\u2019s dominant defence in recent years, most recently stepping up as interim head coach for the 2025 Guinness Six Nations\u2014where he led his side to a Triple Crown triumph.<\/p>\n

Speaking after the announcement, he said:<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cIt\u2019s incredible to be part of the Lions coaching team and this is a very proud day for me and my family.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t get any better than a Lions Tour. I was lucky enough to Tour with the Lions 20 years ago. It\u2019s been a long time between gigs, but it is an exciting time and I am looking forward to getting stuck in.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Who is Simon Easterby\u2019s wife?<\/strong><\/p>\n

While Easterby\u2019s heart beats green for Ireland, there\u2019s red-hot Welsh passion at home\u2014he\u2019s married to none other than\u00a0Sarra Elgan<\/strong>, the much-loved S4C and TNT Sports presenter, and a familiar face in rugby broadcasting circles.<\/p>\n

The couple, celebrating 20 years of marriage in 2025, are true rugby royalty. Elgan\u2014whose presenting career spans Sky Sports, ESPN, and BBC\u2014is the daughter of legendary Neath, Wales and Lions winger\u00a0Elgan Rees<\/strong>. It\u2019s safe to say rugby runs deep in their family tree.<\/p>\n

A wedding full of Welsh legends<\/strong><\/p>\n

Their 2005 wedding was a rugby who\u2019s-who, with former Wales and Scarlets fullback\u00a0Matt Cardey<\/strong>\u00a0standing as Easterby\u2019s best man. Not to be outdone, Simon\u2019s brother\u00a0Guy Easterby<\/strong>, himself a 28-cap Ireland international, added even more Test pedigree to the big day.<\/p>\n

That awkward moment on live TV<\/strong><\/p>\n

Despite working in the same industry, their paths rarely cross on camera\u2014until a now-famous moment during the 2024 Six Nations. After Ireland\u2019s win over Wales, Elgan had to interview her husband live on S4C.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know how to interview you!\u201d she confessed on air, prompting a laugh from Easterby. The pair ended up having a full-blown rugby chat\u2014one Elgan joked was the most in-depth they\u2019d had since getting married.<\/p>\n

As the interview wrapped, she cheekily added:<\/p>\n

\u201cThat wasn\u2019t as awkward as I thought. That was actually much better. Did you pick up your black socks to wear with your suit later?\u201d<\/p>\n

EDITORS PICKS:<\/strong><\/p>\n

The England players WAGs cheering on British & Irish Lions this summer<\/strong><\/p>\n

As the British & Irish Lions gear up for an action-packed summer tour, all eyes won\u2019t just be on the pitch \u2014 the stands will be just as captivating. <\/strong><\/p>\n

The England players\u2019 WAGs (wives and girlfriends) are preparing to show their unwavering support, bringing glamour, style, and plenty of team spirit along for the ride.<\/p>\n

From sun-soaked selfies to heartfelt moments of encouragement, expect these supportive partners to be a vibrant presence throughout the Lions\u2019 campaign. <\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a closer look at the women who\u2019ll be roaring loudest from the sidelines this summer.<\/p>\n

Beth Dolling \u2013 Singer, Model, and Marcus\u2019s No.1 Fan (Marcus Smith)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fly-half Marcus Smith is dating\u00a0Beth Dolling<\/strong>, a 25-year-old singer and model who\u2019s worked with major brands like PrettyLittleThing and built up a sizeable social following.<\/p>\n

She\u2019s often snapped in glammed-up couples\u2019 pics with Marcus, and one heartfelt post said it all:\u00a0\u201cNo matter what, watching you do what you love doing makes me so proud.\u201d<\/p>\n

They\u2019ve been Instagram official since June 2021, and with Beth\u2019s fashion flair, expect some serious style moments down under.<\/p>\n

Mimi Fall \u2013 The new Mrs Itoje (Maro Itoje)<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Lions captain has officially hung up his bachelor boots after tying the knot with long-time partner Mimi Fall \u2013 just weeks before the tour kicks off.<\/p>\n

The towering second-row proposed during a sun-soaked getaway to Nigeria and Ghana in August 2024, popping the question at a dreamy waterside resort in Ada, just outside Accra. \u201cIt was a beautiful resort,\u201d Maro told the\u00a0Daily Mail. \u201cI popped the question there.\u201d Job done.<\/p>\n

Mimi confirmed the engagement with a sparkling Instagram reveal, flashing the rock and writing:\u00a0\u201cMrs I to be.\u201d\u00a0Cue the collective swoon.<\/p>\n

Fast forward to May 25, and the couple sealed the deal with a stylish ceremony in London\u2019s swanky Mayfair. The snaps say it all \u2013 pure class, serious suits, and big smiles all round.<\/p>\n

Sharing the news online, Maro wrote:
\u201cScripture says it is not good for man to be alone\u2026 I am no longer alone. I HAVE A WIFE. To God be the Glory!!!!\u201d<\/p>\n

CONTINUES ON PAGE TWO<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Like this:<\/p>\n

Like Loading…<\/p>\n

\t\t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Lions Confirm Major Coaching Addition as Simon Easterby Reunites with Andy Farrell for 2025 Tour Simon Easterby is…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":180402,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4102],"tags":[4151,79,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-180401","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-rugby","8":"tag-rugby","9":"tag-sports","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114674659732406165","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/180401","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=180401"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/180401\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/180402"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=180401"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=180401"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=180401"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}