The British and Irish Lions squad for this summer season’s tour of Australia has been revealed.
Head coach Andy Farrell named a 38-player squad on the O2 Enviornment in London, with Maro Itoje topped captain of the 2025 Lions.
The largest cheers got here for England rookie Henry Pollock, who was the standout bolter for the tour given he solely made his Check debut for England in March, however there have been different eye-catching gamers included.
– British & Irish Lions fixtures for Australia tour
– WATCH: The second Maro Itoje was named Lions captain
– British and Irish Lions squad announcement: The way it occurred
PROPS
Ellis Genge, England
BIO: Genge is a robust loose-head prop recognized for his aggressive ball-carrying. He made his England debut in 2016, and has received 50 caps.
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: None
Will Stuart, England
BIO: Stuart was one in all England’s standout performers within the Six Nations, that means he was at all times a robust contender to be picked by Farrell.
At membership degree, he has essential to a Bathtub aspect chasing Premiership and European silverware this season, and he’ll carry expertise, with 50 worldwide caps already, though this might be his first Lions tour.
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: None
Andrew Porter, Eire
BIO: Porter has a terrific shout at making Farrell’s beginning XV, having served him nicely for Eire in recent times. It should between him and Genge for the No. 1 jersey, although.
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: 2021
Tadhg Furlong, Eire
BIO: There isn’t any doubting Furlong’s class, though a recurring calf harm has hampered his season forward of the Lions tour. He is among the few surviving names from the 2017 aspect, with this his third tour.
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: 2017, 2021
Pierre Schoeman, Scotland
BIO: Certainly one of three Scottish forwards, Schoeman made his worldwide debut in 2021 and has received 40 Check caps since. A reliable prop, he’ll look to problem Genge and Porter for the No. 1 jersey. Farrell has talked about competitors for locations within the squad, and prop might be one of the hotly contested.
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: None
Zander Fagerson, Scotland
BIO: Fagerson has been a mainstay for Scotland ever since his debut in 2016. He’s one other returning member from the South Africa tour in 2021, though he didn’t make an look in any of the three Assessments.
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: 2021
HOOKERS
Dan Sheehan, Eire
BIO: Sheehan had a robust Six Nations and has bagged tries in membership rugby this season. He brings bodily presence at hooker and can vie with Luke Cown-Dickie for a beginning spot.
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: None
Ronan Kelleher, Eire
BIO: Kelleher was a late addition to the 2021 squad having been a part of the pre-tour coaching camp in Jersey as casual cowl, and he’ll make one other berth this time. Like his compatriots, his relationship with Farrell as a part of the Eire setup might be a feather in his cap.
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: 2021
Luke Cowan-Dickie, England
BIO: Cowan-Dickie will carry priceless expertise to the front-row, having received 49 Check caps and been aside of two World Cup squads. He additionally toured with the Lions to South Africa in 2021, so is aware of the trials and tribulations that include an extended journey away.
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: 2021
BACK ROWS AND LOCKS
Maro Itoje, England
BIO: Itoje might be simply the second Englishman to captain the Lions within the skilled period, following Martin Johnson who led the vacationers in each 1997 and 2001. His worldwide captaincy expertise has been spectacular to this point, main England within the Six Nations earlier this yr.
It was between Itoje and Eire’s Caelan Doris to be chosen as captain, however the latter’s shoulder surgical procedure left that decision in little doubt.
Itoje is a two-time Lion already, having performed towards the All Blacks in 2017 and South Africa in 2021.
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: 2017, 2021
Tadhg Beirne, Eire
BIO: Beirne has loads of credit score within the financial institution from being so constant in recent times. He’ll face a battle with Ollie Chessum as as to whether he’ll begin, however he was by no means doubtful for choice for this tour. He featured in all three Assessments on his maiden Lions tour in 2021.
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: 2021
Ben Earl, England
BIO: A robust No. 8 who also can play centre, Earl might be embarking on his first Lions tour like many on this squad, though he has been an everyday starter for England for 5 years.
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: None
Tom Curry, England
BIO: Curry was arguably England’s most influential participant within the Six Nations and appears set so as to add to the three Check begins he earned in South Africa in 2021. His versatility to play both aspect of the scrum will assist Farrell, too.
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: 2021
Jac Morgan, Wales
BIO: Wales captain Morgan was one of many vibrant spots in a traditionally unhealthy aspect through the Six Nations, notably with an brisk efficiency towards England. Farrell is spoiled for alternative for this a part of the pack, with Morgan solely including to it. That is his debut tour.
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: None
Ollie Chessum, England
BIO: At 24 years previous, that is Chessum’s debut Lions tour, and he might but earn himself a beginning spot ought to he impress within the tour matches in Australia. He loved a wonderful Six Nations with England and is famend for his presence on the lineout. Nevertheless, he’s one in all a number of beginning choices.
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: None
Jack Conan, Eire
BIO: The Eire No. 8 will return for an additional Lions tour after being a standout performer in 2021. Farrell has lengthy been an admirer of his work charge and ball-carrying, and he’ll get the chance to check these abilities towards the Wallabies this summer season.
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: 2021
Josh van der Flier, Eire
BIO: Van Der Flier has been so constant for Eire within the No. 7 jersey and it is no shock he is made the tour. The 2022 World Rugby males’s 15s Participant of the 12 months, Van Der Flier has received 73 caps for Eire and been spectacular within the majority of them.
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: None
James Ryan, Eire
BIO: One other versatile participant who’s well-known by Farrell, Ryan brings an enormous bodily presence to the pack. He has been a mainstay in Farrell’s Eire squad throughout their current successes and will nicely be in line to begin alongside Maro Itoje within the second row.
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: None
Scott Cummings, Scotland
BIO: First referred to as as much as the Scotland squad in 2017, Cummings has needed to be affected person by is worldwide profession. He made his debut in a World Cup heat up match in 2019 and has gone on to win 42 caps. Regardless of lacking the Six Nations by harm, he lastly will get his Lions call-up this yr.
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: None
Henry Pollock, England
BIO: At simply 20 years previous, he’s the youngest and least skilled member of this Lions tour. Extremely, he has only one half of worldwide rugby for England underneath his belt — a storming second-half efficiency towards an already overwhelmed Wales aspect within the Six Nations.
Nevertheless, the highly-rated expertise put in a terrific exhibiting for Northampton Saints towards Leinster in what he later described because the “hardest recreation of my life.”
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: None
Joe McCarthy, Eire
BIO: At 24, McCarthy is among the youthful forwards, however has made a huge effect since coming onto the scene in 2022. He has 19 caps and has already performed in a World Cup and received two Six Nations titles together with the Grand Slam in 2023.
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: None
SCRUM-HALVES
Jamison Gibson-Park, Eire
BIO: He’s the standout scrum-half amongst within the group and appears a protected guess to be a starter towards Australia. He has been a incredible servant to Farrell with Eire in recent times, incomes a spot within the 2024 World Rugby Dream Staff of the 12 months. He was additionally named Man of the Match twice at this yr’s Six Nations.
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: None
Alex Mitchell, England
BIO: Mitchell has aided his case for a beginning spot by serving to Northampton Saints attain the Champions Cup ultimate. With 23 England caps, he has the sport so as to add dynamism to this Lions squad, though he might be hard-pressed to get forward of Gibson-Park.
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: None
Tomos Williams, Wales
BIO: Williams is one in all simply two Welsh gamers chosen by Farrell. He impressed on the Six Nations in troublesome circumstances given the staff’s 17-game dropping streak. He’s an out of doors option to get a Check begin, however he might be aiming to place in an excellent show within the warm-up matches.
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: None
FLY-HALVES
Finn Russell, Scotland
BIO: Russell has the magic to create one thing particular for the Lions this summer season, though he’s not a nailed-on starter as you would possibly count on. He didn’t set the world alight through the Six Nations, though he doesn’t have anybody massive contender for his place.
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: 2017, 2021
Fin Smith, England
BIO: A cub among the many Lions squad, Smith made a reputation for himself through the Six Nations by which he made his England debut, notably main England to wins over Scotland and France. It was a mighty achievement for the 22-year-old and earned him a spot in Farrell’s aspect.
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: None
Marcus Smith, England
BIO: Smith was used at each fly-half and fullback through the Six Nations, though he impressed most on the latter. It stays to be seen the place he could possibly be used on tour, however possibly it was that versatility and dynamism that made Farrell choose him. This might be his second Lions tour.
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: 2021
CENTRES
Bundee Aki, Eire
BIO: Aki has been as a lot part of Eire’s success underneath Farrell as some other, an element that put him in good stead forward of the Australia tour. He began the ultimate Check in 2021 towards South Africa and might be hoping so as to add to that complete Down Beneath.
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: 2021
Huw Jones, Scotland
BIO: Jones stepped up within the absence of Sione Tuipulotu for Scotland through the Six Nations and ran the midfield nicely. He’s a robust candidate to begin this summer season. That is his debut Lions tour.
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: None
Garry Ringrose, Eire
BIO: Ringrose scored tries towards England and Italy on this yr’s Six Nations and has been an everyday starter for Farrell’s Eire in recent times. He might be hoping to impress Down Beneath and win the squad battle at centre.
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: None
Sione Tuipulotu, Scotland
BIO: Tuipulotu missed this yr’s Six Nations with a pectoral muscle harm. When match, he can be a incredible beginning possibility for Farrell, though his health stays to be seen. Glasgow Warriors head coach Franco Smith beforehand stated he would “completely” be again by the top of the season.
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: None
OUTSIDE BACKS
James Lowe, Eire
BIO: The Eire winger will probably be one of many first names on Farrell’s staff sheet. Lowe is in effective type this season, and his kicking recreation will even supply the Lions an enormous quantity towards the Wallabies. This might be his debut tour.
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: None
Duhan van der Merwe, Scotland
BIO: Farrell was not delay by an ankle harm that has already seen him miss six weeks of motion. The Scotland winger is among the most entertaining in world rugby when he’s storming ahead with the ball, though it stays to be seen if he’ll earn a beginning place.
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: 2021
Mack Hansen, Eire
BIO: Hansen was a vital a part of the Farrell-coached Eire sides that lifted the 2023 and 2024 Six Nations, so it’s no shock he has been included. He provides to a proficient room of wingers to tackle Australia.
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: None
Elliot Daly, England
BIO: Daly has probably the most expertise among the many wingers taken by Farrell having served on the previous two Lions excursions. He brings versatility and long-range kicking that can profit the aspect, and he’s no stranger to arriving within the massive moments as he did scoring England’s last-gasp attempt to beat France earlier this yr.
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: 2017, 2024
Tommy Freeman, England
BIO: Freeman might be hoping to make his debut tour one to recollect as he appears to construct on an excellent yr to this point. He was one in all England’s standout performers on the Six Nations, the place he scored a attempt in all of his 5 begins.
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: None
FULLBACKS
Blair Kinghorn, Scotland
BIO: The Scotland fullback is the clear option to win the No. 15 jersey. His Lions place was doubtful resulting from his membership rugby Toulouse limiting his availability for the warmup matches, however Farrell regarded previous that and included him in his squad.
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: None
Hugo Keenan, Eire
BIO: Keenan has been a reliable possibility for Farrell together with his constant performances for Eire, and he’ll push Kinghorn for a spot ought to the Scotland fullback be off his recreation on tour.
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: None
