British & Irish Lions: Henry Pollock in, Owen Farrell out and Maro Itoje captain for tour of Australia – reside | British & Irish Lions

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May 8, 2025

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British & Irish Lions: Henry Pollock in, Owen Farrell out and Maro Itoje captain for tour of Australia – reside | British & Irish Lions

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British & Irish Lions squad for Australia tour

Forwards

Tadhg Beirne (Eire/Munster)
Ollie Chessum (England/Leicester)
Jack Conan (Eire/Leinster)
Luke Cowan-Dickie (England/Sale)
Scott Cummings (Scotland/Glasgow)
Tom Curry (England/Sale)
Ben Earl (England/Saracens)
Zander Fagerson (Scotland/Glasgow)
Tadhg Furlong (Eire/Leinster)
Ellis Genge (England/Bristol)
Maro Itoje (England/Saracens, captain)
Rónan Kelleher (Eire/Leinster)
Joe McCarthy (Eire/Leinster)
Jac Morgan (Wales/Ospreys)
Henry Pollock (England/Northampton)
Andrew Porter (Eire/Leinster)
James Ryan (Eire/Leinster)
Pierre Schoeman (Scotland/Edinburgh)
Dan Sheehan (Eire/Leinster)
Will Stuart (England/Tub)
Josh van der Flier (Eire/Leinster)

Backs

Bundee Aki (Eire/Connacht)
Elliot Daly (England/Saracens)
Tommy Freeman (England/Northampton)
Jamison Gibson-Park (Eire/Leinster)
Mack Hansen (Eire/Connacht)
Huw Jones (Scotland/Glasgow)
Hugo Keenan (Eire/Leinster)
Blair Kinghorn (Scotland/Toulouse)
James Lowe (Eire/Leinster)
Alex Mitchell (England/Northampton)
Garry Ringrose (Eire/Leinster)
Finn Russell (Scotland/Tub)
Fin Smith (England/Northampton)
Marcus Smith (England/Harlequins)
Sione Tuipulotu (Scotland/Glasgow)
Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland/Edinburgh)
Tomos Williams (Wales/Gloucester)

Key occasions

Now we’re speaking to Mack Hansen, one other Australia-born decide. The Connacht wing doesn’t have a lot to say, explaining “Bundee [Aki] was supposed to do that however he needed to take care of the youngsters”. Hansen is one identify (maybe the one one) within the squad who wasn’t part of our writers’ predicted line-ups.

Now we head as much as Glasgow, the place 4 Warriors have made the lower – Scott Cummings, Zander Fagerson, Huw Jones and Sione Tuipulotu, who can be dreaming of carrying the crimson jersey for a Check match in Melbourne, town of his delivery. The quartet appear very excited, though the video hyperlink is a bit spotty in locations.

Ben Earl joins through video hyperlink, and says getting chosen is “one of many biggest days of my profession”. The England ahead provides that he didn’t sleep in any respect final evening, and it’s been an emotional day for his mother and father. He hasn’t had an opportunity to congratulate clubmate Itoje as a result of “he didn’t flip up for coaching right now”. I suppose he was busy …

British & Irish Lions squad for Australia tour

Forwards

Backs

Farrell was anticipated to call a 37-man squad, which elevated to 40 this week. In the long run, there are 38 gamers chosen: 21 forwards and 17 backs. The pinnacle coach congratulates all the picks, and affords his commiserations to those that missed out.

And now on to the backs, with indecent haste …

Right here we go! Evans goes to learn some names out, beginning with the forwards in alphabetical order …

Now, a spotlight reel of the 2013 Australia tour – plus pictures of a mural of the squad being painted in east London. I don’t wish to complain, however we’re half-an-hour in and one identify has been introduced …

“It’s an amazing honour, large privilege,” says Itoje. “Considering of all of the gamers who’ve gone earlier than me … it’s onerous to articulate actually.” He says he bought a name from an Irish quantity on Tuesday – “I picked up and heard a Wigan accent” – however then the sign performed up.

Itoje is the primary Englishman to steer the Lions since Martin Johnson in 2001 – and the primary particular person of color to captain the group. He spent final evening with earlier skippers at a dinner and says he was “blown away” by the “love and respect” all of them have for the Lions, even “30 or 40 years” after enjoying.

Maro Itoje is called Lions captain

As had been broadly predicted, it’s the Saracens and England ahead who will get the nod. He’s right here, in full Lions package, and carrying a large cuddly toy lion. The group give him a rapturous reception.

Maro Itoje is introduced as Lions captain alongside Andy Farrell. {Photograph}: David Rogers/Getty Photos

Alun Wyn Jones, who was captain for the 2021 South Africa tour earlier than struggling an damage, comes out on stage for a chat earlier than the brand new skipper is introduced …

We’re going to begin with the captaincy – the participant in query will turn out to be simply the forty sixth particular person to steer the British & Irish Lions. Farrell says that participant must be “a beacon” for others – “it takes a particular particular person for certain” – however that he has leaders and unifying gamers all through the squad.

“It’s inconceivable to elucidate until you’ve been part of it,” says Farrell of Lions responsibility as a participant. “It’s so particular to have the ability to characterize all the house nations … and the way rapidly that bond [in the squad] turns into united is wonderful.”

“I’m feelin nice, I really feel fairly chilled,” says Farrell as he arrives on stage. “I’ve made my picks, now Ieuan has to learn them out.” As for Evans, he reveals that he heard about his first two Lions call-ups through telegram (“not the brand new one!”) and Ceefax.

Andy Farrell and Ieuan Evans on stage. {Photograph}: David Rogers/Getty Photos

Squad announcement begins

Former Lion and Guardian rugby author Ugo Monye is on stage, alongside Sky presenter Lee McKenzie. They’ll be joined shortly by Andy Farrell and the Lions chairman, Ieuan Evans, to disclose Farrell’s picks and discuss concerning the large selections.

This would be the Lions’ first tour of Australia since 2013, when the vacationers prevailed 2-1. Warren Gatland’s aspect gained 23-21 in Brisbane, misplaced 16-15 in Melbourne after which roared to a 41-16 victory within the Sydney decider.

The Lions will play 10 fixtures this summer season – one in Dublin and the remainder in Australia. Right here’s the total checklist of opponents:

Argentina (Dublin, 20 June)
Western Pressure (Perth, 28 June)
Queensland Reds (Brisbane, 2 July)
NSW Waratahs (Sydney, 5 July)
ACT Brumbies (Canberra, 9 July)
Aus/NZ invitational XV (Adelaide, 12 July)
Australia (First Check, Brisbane, 19 July)
First Nations/Pasifika XV (Melbourne, 22 July)
Australia (Second Check, Melbourne, 26 July)
Australia (Third Check, Sydney, 2 Aug)

It seems to be just like the announcement – being made reside in entrance of followers on the O₂ in London – will begin at 2pm GMT. So, in about 10 minutes.

“It was fascinating to see Jack Willis lacking from the writers’ picks yesterday,” writes Bevan Jones. “The again rows regarded a bit light-weight to me. Do we expect one of the best again rower in Europe is in? Additionally: fingers crossed for my present favorite participant, James Lowe – a person who can seemingly antagonise any set of supporters across the globe.”

You’ll be able to watch the reside announcement on the Lions’ YouTube channel – it’s because of begin in about 20 minutes.

There’s been a good bit of discuss this week about Northampton’s Champions Cup semi-final win over Leinster, and the way that may have an effect on Farrell’s considering. Henry Pollock, for one, has moved from Lions bolter to near-certainty, and Fin Smith’s odds have additionally shortened.

Then again, Leinster fly-half Sam Prendergast is believed to have fallen down the pecking order, and questions have been requested over how most of the area’s gamers benefit a spot. I ponder if the top coach would make too many drastic calls primarily based on a single match, even when the consequence felt seismic.

“Simply watching the reside stream, and wish to double-check,” writes Matthew Moore. “White smoke means the cardinals have chosen a brand new fly-half, proper? Habemus Finnam?”

Fortunately, the Vatican conclave has opted to not overshadow the squad announcement this afternoon.

Daniel Stephens is able to discuss bolters – the gamers who will make a late surge into the Lions squad. There’s room for an additional three right now, with Farrell anticipated to choose 40 gamers somewhat than 37.

Daniel says: “Blair Murray (Wales), Courtney Lawes (England) and Jamie Ritchie (Scotland) will all be chosen and lift eyebrows this afternoon.”

The scene inside Indigo on the O2. {Photograph}: Ben McShane/Sportsfile/Getty Photos

“I’m having a imaginative and prescient of the Lions No 10s as a 1958 Fairlane 500 convertible,” writes Carl Gladwell. “In different phrases, a Ford with a pair of Fin(n)s.”

Our rugby union writers make their picks right here …

Preamble

Lions szn is formally right here. The primary Check in opposition to Australia in Brisbane is simply over a few months away, and the curtain-raiser in opposition to Argentina in Dublin can be upon us in six weeks’ time.

That is the largest milestone on the highway to opening evening, as Andy Farrell picks an anticipated 40-man squad from England, Eire, Scotland and Wales’ best. It’ll be a profession spotlight for a lot of gamers, and a day of nice disappointment for others.

Maro Itoje is about to be named captain for the Lions’ first tour since South Africa in 2021. Lots of his England colleagues, together with Owen Farrell, Marcus Smith and George Ford, face a nervous wait to see in the event that they make the lower. Farrell Sr is forecast to choose 22 forwards and 18 backs.

We’ll get the total lowdown at 1.30pm BST, when Lions chairman (and former tour winner Down Below) Ieuan Evans publicizes the squad. There’ll be 2,000 followers gathered on the O₂to present their collective verdict, and you may let me know your predictions/alternatives right here.