As Andy Farrell named his 38-man Lions squad for this summer’s Lions tour of Australia, there were some big calls made on the 8th of May in front of 2,000 fans attending a live announcement event at London’s 02 Arena.
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Some Major Lions Squad Selection Decisions Taken
Farrell’s statement, “It’s my job to play devil’s advocate,” was certainly underwritten by some of the choices. None more so, than the inclusion of a very young English contingent of Henry Pollock aged-20, Fin Smith 23, and Marcus Smith 25 among a party, which does not include son Owen Farrell, two-time tourist Jamie George or Sam Prendergast handed the Ireland 10 shirt by Farrell himself in November last year.
The absence of the hugely influential number 8 Caelan Doris due to injury was a simultaneously straightforward and difficult decision representing a significant loss for Farrell and the coaching team. However, the presence of Ben Earl and Jack Conan, both specialist number 8s in the group has seriously reinforced the back row.
England’s George Ford, Scotland’s Ben White, Tom Jordan and Darcy Graham, Ireland centre Robbie Henshaw and Wales co-captain Dewi Lake also failed to make the squad.
Although the door has been left slightly ajar, given the disclosure that two spots have been held in reserve for players who may yet prove their form and fitness in the coming weeks.
Squad Highlights British & Irish Lions 2025
Ireland Players
Andy Farrell’s travelling squad was always likely to involve a healthy Irish contingent given his success at the helm of Ireland’s national side before taking on the Lions role; 15 of them to be exact, 12 of whom are Leinster club-mates. In all honesty, the inclusion of some of these players was never realistically in doubt: Tadhg Beirne (the first name announced), Dan Sheehan, Jamison Gibson-Park and Andrew Porter to name but a few.
Nonetheless, players like Josh van der Flier and Garry Ringrose will feel a sharp sense of relief at their selection. The Leinster pair missed the boat in 2021 and were perceived to be on the periphery on this occasion following the recent defeat by Northampton.
England Players
England have 13 players on the list including British & Irish Lions 2025 captain Maro Itoje. It was only a little over eight months ago, back in August 2024, a short journey from London’s O2 to Tower Bridge, where Itoje was unveiled as his club Saracens’ new captain. Since that point, he has gone on to lead his country and is now skipper of the Lions voyage Down Under.
Bristol Bears prop Ellis Genge has never toured with the British & Irish Lions before, and much like 20-year-old Henry Pollock of Northampton Saints, he learned of his call-up among his team-mates on the training ground. In Pollock’s case his astounding news was quickly followed by a similar heads up for England and Northampton trio Tommy Freeman, Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith.
Scotland Players
Eight Scottish players are included in Farrel’s Lions line up:
Versatile Scotland back, Toulouse’s Blair Kinghorn being the only France-based player to be selected in the overall squad. He is joined among others by Sione Tuipulotu Scotland captain and centre, second row Scott Cummings, fly-half Finn Russell, and winger Duhan van der Merwe
Wales Players
As it stands, there will only be two Wales players on the flight to Australia next month, namely flanker Jac Morgan and scrum-half Tomos Williams.
British & Irish Lions 2025 Final Squad Selections
British & Irish Lions Backs
Bundee Aki – Centre – (Connacht Rugby/Ireland)
Elliot Daly – Centre, Wing, Full-back, Fly-half – (Saracens/England)
Tommy Freeman – Wing, Centre, Full-back – (Northampton Saints/England)
Jamison Gibson-Park – scrum-half – (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
Mack Hansen – Wing, Fullback – (Connacht Rugby/Ireland)
Huw Jones – Centre – (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland)
Hugo Keenan – Fullback, Wing – (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
Blair Kinghorn – Fullback, Fly-half, Wing – (Toulouse/Scotland)
James Lowe – Wing, Fullback – (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
Alex Mitchell – scrum-half – (Northampton Saints/England)
Garry Ringrose – Centre – (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
Finn Russell – Fly-half, Centre – (Bath Rugby/Scotland)
Fin Smith – Fly-half – (Northampton Saints/England)
Marcus Smith – Fly-half, Fullback – (Harlequins/ England)
Sione Tuipulotu – Centre – (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland)
Duhan van der Merwe – Wing – (Edinburgh Rugby/Scotland)
Tomos Williams – scrum-half – (Gloucester Rugby/Wales)
British & Irish Lions Forwards
Tadhg Beirne – Lock, Flanker – (Munster Rugby/Ireland)
Ollie Chessum – Lock, Flanker – (Leicester Tigers/England)
Jack Conan – Number 8 – (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
Luke Cowan-Dickie – Hooker – (Sale Sharks/England)
Scott Cummings – Lock – (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland)
Tom Curry – Flanker, Number 8 – (Sale Sharks/England)
Ben Earl – Flanker, Number 8 – (Saracens/England)
Zander Fagerson – Prop – (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland)
Tadhg Furlong – Prop – (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
Ellis Genge – Prop – (Bristol Bears/England)
Maro Itoje – Lock, Flanker – (Saracens/England – captain)
Ronan Kelleher – Hooker – (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
Joe McCarthy – Lock – (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
Jac Morgan – Flanker – (Ospreys/Wales)
Henry Pollock – Flanker, Number 8 – (Northampton Saints/England)
Andrew Porter – Prop – (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
James Ryan – Lock – (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
Pierre Schoeman – Prop – (Edinburgh Rugby/Scotland)
Dan Sheehan – Hooker – (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
Will Stuart – Prop – (Bath Rugby/England)
Josh van der Flier – Flanker, Hooker – (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
Press Conference Insights
British & Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell, described the demanding process required in selecting the final squad:
“It was very difficult.
“Going from 75 players and getting it down to 55 – that’s tough enough. It says everything about the process.
“Getting it down to the final 38 – it is my job to play devil’s advocate.
“The chats I have had, the honest chats I have had with all the coaches about the players that we have talked about have been fantastic.
“From 55 to the 38 [players] is extremely difficult.”
British and Irish Lions assistant coach Johnny Sexton:
“A huge day for all the players and their families.
“I have been on both sides of it, where it’s the best day of your career and then where it’s the worst day of your career.
“I have experience as a player and being able to pass on my experience is something I’m passionate about.”
British and Irish Lions captain Maro Itoje:
“It is hard to articulate. It is a tremendous honour, a tremendous privilege.
“You think about the people who have held this position before and it is remarkable.
“It is an honour, and I will do my very best so that I can contribute to a successful tour.”
The Final Word
Among the 38 players named by Andy Farrell, are two Australians in Sione Tuipulotu and the Ireland winger Mack Hansen. The looming showdown between the Melbourne-born Scotland captain Tuipulotu and the Wallabies’ highly prized recruit from rugby league Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, sets up an appetising contest described as “a feisty rematch”. The Wallabies are said to have an advantage at number 8, with loose forward Rob Valetin, due to the injury absence of Ireland’s Caelan Doris. Meanwhile, Wallabies centres Len Ikitau, and Hunter Paisami are tipped to match the tourists in the midfield. Plus, Australian media see the omission of Owen Farrell as a distinct bonus. All in all, the stage is set for an-as-good-as-it-gets thriller of a Test series.
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