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 most important cheers got here for England rookie Henry Pollock, who was the standout bolter for the tour given he solely made his Take a look at debut for England in March, however there have been different eye-catching gamers included.
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PROPS
Ellis Genge, England
BIO: Genge is a robust loose-head prop identified for his aggressive ball-carrying. He made his England debut in 2016, and has gained 50 caps.
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: None
Will Stuart, England
BIO: Stuart was considered one of England’s standout performers within the Six Nations, which means he was all the time a powerful contender to be picked by Farrell.
At membership stage, he has essential to a Bathtub facet chasing Premiership and European silverware this season, and he’ll carry expertise, with 50 worldwide caps already, though this will likely 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 lately. It’ll between him and Genge for the No. 1 jersey, although.
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: 2021
Tadhg Furlong, Eire
BIO: There is no such thing as a doubting Furlong’s class, though a recurring calf damage has hampered his season forward of the Lions tour. He is among the few surviving names from the 2017 facet, with this his third tour.
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: 2017, 2021
Pierre Schoeman, Scotland
BIO: Considered one of three Scottish forwards, Schoeman made his worldwide debut in 2021 and has gained 40 Take a look at 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 will likely be probably the most 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 Checks.
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: 2021
HOOKERS
Dan Sheehan, Eire
BIO: Sheehan had a powerful 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 will likely be a feather in his cap.
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: 2021
Luke Cowan-Dickie, England
BIO: Cowan-Dickie will carry beneficial expertise to the front-row, having gained 49 Take a look at 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 will likely 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 up to now, 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 lately. 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 Checks on his maiden Lions tour in 2021.
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: 2021
Ben Earl, England
BIO: A robust No. 8 who may also play centre, Earl will likely 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 Take a look at begins he earned in South Africa in 2021. His versatility to play both facet of the scrum will assist Farrell, too.
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: 2021
Jac Morgan, Wales
BIO: Wales captain Morgan was one of many shiny spots in a traditionally unhealthy facet in the course of the Six Nations, notably with an lively 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 may but earn himself a beginning spot ought to he impress within the tour matches in Australia. He loved a superb Six Nations with England and is famend for his presence on the lineout. Nevertheless, he’s considered one of a number of beginning choices.
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: None
Jack Conan, Eire
BIO: The Eire No. 8 will return for one more Lions tour after being a standout performer in 2021. Farrell has lengthy been an admirer of his work fee and ball-carrying, and he’ll get the chance to check these expertise 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 gained 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 latest 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 known as as much as the Scotland squad in 2017, Cummings has needed to be affected person by means of 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 means of damage, 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 below his belt — a storming second-half efficiency towards an already overwhelmed Wales facet within the Six Nations.
Nevertheless, the highly-rated expertise put in a terrific displaying 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 big impact since coming onto the scene in 2022. He has 19 caps and has already performed in a World Cup and gained 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 unbelievable servant to Farrell with Eire lately, incomes a spot within the 2024 World Rugby Dream Crew 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 closing. With 23 England caps, he has the sport so as to add dynamism to this Lions squad, though he will likely be hard-pressed to get forward of Gibson-Park.
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: None
Tomos Williams, Wales
BIO: Williams is considered one of simply two Welsh gamers chosen by Farrell. He impressed on the Six Nations in troublesome circumstances given the group’s 17-game dropping streak. He’s an outdoor option to get a Take a look at begin, however he will likely 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 anticipate. He didn’t set the world alight in the course of the Six Nations, though he doesn’t have anybody large 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 in the course of 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 facet.
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: None
Marcus Smith, England
BIO: Smith was used at each fly-half and fullback in the course of the Six Nations, though he impressed most on the latter. It stays to be seen the place he may very well be used on tour, however perhaps it was that versatility and dynamism that made Farrell choose him. This will likely 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 below Farrell as another, an element that put him in good stead forward of the Australia tour. He began the ultimate Take a look at in 2021 towards South Africa and will likely 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 in the course of the Six Nations and ran the midfield nicely. He’s a powerful 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 lately. He will likely 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 damage. When match, he could be a unbelievable 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 tip of the season.
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: None
OUTSIDE BACKS
James Lowe, Eire
BIO: The Eire winger will seemingly be one of many first names on Farrell’s group sheet. Lowe is in tremendous type this season, and his kicking recreation may even provide the Lions an enormous quantity towards the Wallabies. This will likely be his debut tour.
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: None
Duhan van der Merwe, Scotland
BIO: Farrell was not postpone by an ankle damage 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 facet, and he’s no stranger to arriving within the large 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 will likely be hoping to make his debut tour one to recollect as he appears to be like to construct on an excellent yr up to now. He was considered one of England’s standout performers on the Six Nations, the place he scored a strive 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 appeared previous that and included him in his squad.
PREVIOUS LIONS SELECTIONS: None
Hugo Keenan, Eire
BIO: Keenan has been a reliable possibility for Farrell along 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
