A ringer, a Rebel and two Aussies are named for the British and Irish Lions

Prop: Zander Fagerson (SCO)

Glasgow Warriors & Scotland  |  75 caps (3 tries)  |  Lions tourist in 2021

29yo, Perth, SCO  |  188cm/126kg

A Glasgow Warriors stalwart, Fagerson is one of the most-reliable performers in Scotland’s ever-improving side.

Never one to take a backward step, the west coast product is the sort of player that you want to have in your side, which is where he will likely be if there’s any possibility of things getting out of hand.

However, a calf injury he suffered in the lead-up to Glasgow’s URC match against Zebra did put his touring participation in doubt, with Warriors coach Franco Smith telling reporters that the issue would rule him out until late June.

Prop: Tadhg Furlong (IRE)

Leinster & Ireland  |  79 caps (5 tries)  |  6 Lions Test caps (2017, 2021)

32yo, Wexford, IRE  |  183cm/119kg

Tadhg Furlong is one of the premier tight head props in the world, so there was never a doubt that he would be named to his third Lions touring team. Or was there?

The 32-year-old missed all but one of Ireland’s underwhelming Six Nations campaign and its entire series of autumn internationals with troublesome hamstring and calf injuries, playing just 33 minutes of international rugby since July last year.

Battling these re-occurring injuries has been tough and there has to be an acceptance that his body is not capable of the repeat efforts it was in his 20s.

But this monster of a presence in the front row has earned his spot on tour despite the lack of game time in recent months and will likely be a pillar of strength come Test time too.

Prop: Ellis Genge (ENG)

Bristol Bears & England  |  71 caps (5 tries)  |  Lions tour debut

30yo, Bristol, ENG  |  187cm/116kg

Ellis Genge is passion personified in an England shirt — and you’d expect the Bristolian to bring all that and more Down Under with the Lions as well.

A man who walks the walk as much as he talks the talk, Genge is as mobile as they come and a hugely impressive scrummager to boot, adding yet another mark to the Lions’ impressive scrum stocks on this tour — in 2022 he was named World Rugby loosehead prop of the year.

Genge scored one of his rare international tries against the Wallabies in Perth in 2022, albeit in a 28-30 defeat, but will have happy memories of that tour as Eddie Jones’s tourists secured a 2-1 series victory.

Prop: Andrew Porter (IRE)

Leinster & Ireland  |  75 caps (6 tries)  |  Lions tourist in 2021

29yo, Dublin, IRE  |  183cm/123kg

One of the hardest-working players on the field, Leinster stalwart Andrew Porter was tireless throughout Ireland’s Six Nations campaign.

He hit 99 rucks — 22 more than any other prop — and made 52 tackles in the Championship — one of just two props to pass 50.

Porter was named to tour with the Lions in 2021 but did not make it to South Africa after suffering a toe injury in the lead-up.

He will see this as being an opportunity to make up for lost time and the missed opportunity that got away from him through no fault of his own four years ago.

Prop: Pierre Schoeman (SCO)

Edinburgh & Scotland  |  42 caps (6 tries)  |  Lions tour debut

31yo, Mbombela, RSA  |  180cm/118kg

One of Scotland’s South Africa-born contingent, Schoeman has confirmed himself as one of Scotland’s key performers as Gregor Townsend’s boys raised themselves into the conversation.

A former Springbok U20 international and ex-skipper of the Springbok schoolboys team, Schoeman made his debut for Scotland in 2021 after qualifying on residency grounds, having moved to Edinburgh in 2018.

A monster at scrum time and devastating in the loose, it’s easy to see why Schoeman is a fan favourite north of Hadrian’s Wall and could be in with a very decent shout of wearing the number one jersey in Brisbane when the first Test comes around.

Prop: Will Stuart (ENG)

Bath & England  |  50 caps (3 tries)  |  Lions tour debut

28yo, London, ENG  |  189cm/127kg

Will Stuart had a superb Six Nations campaign for England, pushing his case with a number of assured displays.

Given that the tight-head was under enormous pressure to keep his spot in the England team after a very disappointing tour of New Zealand that saw him left off the list of centrally contracted players, his resurgence has been all the more impressive.

Starting at the back end of 2024, England’s scrum has gone from strength-to-strength, devastating their opponents in the close confines of hand-to-hand combat that typifies the tight five.

An ancient history buff who acknowledges he’s happier with a lower profile than some of his front row partners, Stuart is a deserving tourist and should make his mark in the Test team.

Hooker: Luke Cowan-Dickie (ENG)

Sale Sharks & Ireland  |  49 caps (9 tries)  |  3 Lions Test caps (2021)

31yo, Truro, ENG  |  183cm/111kg

The Cornish hooker started out life in rugby as a prop before moving into the centre of the front row, where he excelled for both club and country.

It’s not been an easy path though, even accounting for the fact that he had former captain Jamie George to contend with for the number two jersey for England.

After being one of the best hookers in the world through 2021, injury forced Cowan-Dickie to undergo neck surgery in 2023 that affected nerves in his arm for over a year.

He then had a scare during a match for Sale when his heart skipped a beat … atrial fibrillation.

A two-time Six Nations winner and a member of the 2019 Rugby World Cup squad that finished as runner-up, Cowan-Dickie has since given up drinking and playing Call of Duty — a game for which he was ranked as number one in the world for a short time.

Hooker: Rónan Kelleher (IRE)

Leinster & Ireland  |  39 caps (8 tries)  |  Lions tourist in 2021

27yo, Dublin, IRE  |  185cm/111kg

A tourist in 2021, initially as non-travelling cover but eventually as a full-blown replacement, Kelleher’s inclusion says as much about Leinster’s strength in depth as it does his own abilities.

Indeed, ABC Sport had Kelleher as the best-performing hooker through the first two rounds of this year’s Six Nations, before Sheehan returned from injury and was judged best for the final three weeks of the campaign.

When Dan Sheehan suffered a season-ending knee injury in 2024, Kelleher was a more than ample replacement for both club and country.

The two twos may as well come as a package deal and will continue to share duties at all levels.

Hooker: Dan Sheehan (IRE)

Leinster & Ireland  |  32 caps (15 tries)  |  Lions tour debut

26yo, Dublin, IRE  |  191cm/111kg

The most-prolific try-scoring forward in Six Nations history, Sheehan crossed the line five times in the course of the Championship this year, including a hat-trick against Italy.

The Dublin lad has had his share of setbacks in his career, including an ACL injury in 2024, but never let that get him down.

His return to the Leinster side saw him score two tries against the Stormers and he stepped up to captain Ireland during this year’s Six Nations in the absence of Caelan Doris.

A reliable lineout thrower and busier than any in the loose, Sheehan had stamped his ticket to Australia long before the squad was eventually named.

Lock: Tadhg Beirne (IRE)

Munster & Ireland  |  61 caps (12 tries)  |  2 Lions Test caps (2021)

33yo, Eadestown, Co Kildare, IRE  |  198cm/113kg

The Munster skipper made his international bow for Ireland’s senior team against Australia in 2018, helping the squad to a historic 2-1 victory.

In fact, in three Tests against Australia for Ireland he has never been on the losing side.

The ex-Leinster and Scarlets man will be hoping for something similar when he dons the red of the British and Irish Lions.

A stellar performer who can also play in the back row if required, Beirne has twice been named in the World Rugby men’s team of the year in the second row.

During the Six Nations, Beirne and Andrew Porter both received abuse for an incident that saw Antoine Dupont rupture his ACL, with France coach Fabien Galthie particularly passionate.

However, Beirne was adamant that there was no malice and it was just an unfortunate incident at a clean-out of a ruck.

Lock: Ollie Chessum (ENG)

Leicester Tigers & England  |  28 caps (2 tries)  |  Lions tour debut

24yo, Boston, ENG  |  201cm/118kg

Following an 11-month injury lay-off, Ollie Chessum was brought straight back into England’s Six Nations squad, underlining the high esteem the Lincolnshire man is held by Steve Borthwick — who should know a thing or two about being an international lock.

Chessum’s reaction to those back-to-back injuries to his shoulder and knee impressed his Australian coach at Leicester, Michael Cheika, who praised his attitude to rehab.

A giant of a man, Chessum has been a feature of England’s second row but can also be used in the back row if required.

Lock: Scott Cummins (SCO)

Glasgow Warriors & Scoland  |  42 caps (2 tries)  |  3 Lions Test caps (2021)

26yo, Glasgow, SCO  |  198cm/116kg

Capped at almost every level by Scotland, Cummins was first selected in the senior squad by Gregor Townsend in 2017 but did not make his debut in the senior team until 2019.

A long wait, but worth it for the Glaswegian, who has since made himself an integral member of the Scotland side.

Cummins was in the spotlight in 2024 when he was sent off against South Africa for an innocuous-looking clean-out at a ruck.

His absence from the squad through a broken arm for the 2025 edition was keenly felt for a Scotland team that somewhat stalled in their development.

Lock | Captain: Maro Itoje (ENG)

Saracens & England  |  93 caps (8 tries)  |  6 Lions Test caps (2017, 2021)

30yo, London, ENG  |  195cm/118kg

A man writing himself into the history books as one of England’s all-time greats.

Itoje, named skipper of England for this year’s Championships, was the only man to play in every minute of every game as England managed a heartening second-place finish behind France.

A man who leads by example, whose performances simply demand respect whether it’s for Saracens, England, or the Lions.

This will be his third Lions tour and, given he has played in every Test on the previous two tours he’s been on with the Lions, expect his name to be among the first on the team sheet this time around as well and add his list to the great locks of the past, like Willie John McBride and Alun Wyn Jones.

Lock: Joe McCarthy (IRE)

Leinster & Ireland  |  93 caps (8 tries)  |  Lions tour debut

24yo, Manhattan, USA  |  198cm/124kg

One of Ireland and Leinster’s key performers in the second row over the last few years, McCarthy is a giant of a man who made his international debut against the Wallabies in 2022.

He didn’t have the most impactful Six Nations campaign, but has been impressive domestically for Leinster.

Discipline is going to be a hot topic on tour, and one that McCarthy will need to be careful about.

In a later match against the Wallabies, the New York-born, Ireland-raised lock left quite the impression on Rob Valetini in Dublin last year, when he clashed heads with the Aussie forward only to escape punishment from the officials.

McCarthy was penalised with a sin-binning though for pulling back Thomas Ramos in Dublin during the Six Nations, which allowed the French to capitalise and run away with the win.

It was a rare card for a team that had taken great pride in its discipline over the past few years and the sort of issue teams cannot afford to give away in tight Test matches.

Lock: James Ryan (IRE)

Leinster & Ireland  |  72 caps (5 tries)  |  Lions tour debut

28yo, Blackrock, Co Dublin, Ireland |  203cm/124kg

Another monster of a lock who has been a stalwart in the Leinster and Ireland back row for a number of years.

In fact, current Wallabies coach Joe Schimdt thought so highly of Ryan that he handed him his full international debut before he had suited up for Leinster, becoming the first player since 2012 to play for his country before his province.

His inclusion was vindicated — he scored a try on debut.

Many of the squad have leadership credentials and Ryan is no exception, captaining the Ireland under 20s to a runners-up finish at the 2016 world championship — Ireland’s best-ever position.

His talkative nature to referees eventually led to him being replaced, but don’t expect that will stop him from muttering a few words out on the field.

Backrow: Jack Conan (IRE)

Leinster & Ireland  |  72 caps (13 tries)  |   3 Lions Test caps (2021)

32yo, Bray, Co Wicklow, Ireland |  193cm/124kg

A fixture of the Leinster team for more than a decade, Conan is an immense runner in the loose, who is also a furious presence in defence, earning the joint-highest number of turnovers of anyone in the Ireland squad throughout the Six Nations despite mostly playing off the bench.

Comfortable anywhere in the back three, he scored tries against Scotland, Wales and France, as well as being a key factor in the second-half surge that accounted for England.

It is off the bench where Conan can be most effective, acknowledging that during the week being a squad member in modern rugby is vital.

Another player who has had to return from almost a year out of the game — in part due to missing the 2024 summer tour for the arrival of his first child — Conan suffered a shoulder injury in the Six Nations but he has since recovered.

Backrow: Tom Curry (ENG)

Sale Sharks & England  |  61 caps (6 tries)  |  3 Lions Test caps (2021)

26yo, London, ENG  |  185cm/109kg

There were very few players who performed as consistently well throughout the Six Nations as Tom Curry.

Starting every game for England, his stunning work rate in both attack and defence were impossible to ignore by anyone watching.

Perhaps most impressively though was the stunning display he produced in Cardiff, where he embarrassed his opposite number and Lions jersey frontrunner Jac Morgan in a devastating display, all in front of coach Andy Farrell.

Don’t back against him adding to his three Lions caps despite the impossible strength in depth of the back row across the British Isles.

Backrow: Ben Earl (ENG)

Saracens & England  |  42 caps (6 tries)  |  3 Lions Test caps (2021)

27yo, Redhill, ENG  |  183cm/107kg

Another of the stellar England backrow unit who simply doesn’t know what fatigue is — or at least plays that way.

No England player had more carries than Earl through the Six Nations, with the Saracens man taking all 63 of them into contact — second only to Blair Kinghorne in his propensity to hit tacklers.

Earl also made more tackles than any other England player, no mean feat given how the entire loose forward contingent hunted in packs.

He also stole five balls at the breakdown, equal most of all England players with Ben Curry, and made a turnover tackle as well.

You know what you’re going to get if you pick Ben Earl, a whirlwind of power and willingness.

Backrow: Jac Morgan (WAL)

Ospreys & Wales  |  24 caps (7 tries)  |  Lions tour debut

25yo, Swansea, WAL  |  182cm/105kg

By the end of the Six Nations, Wales skipper Jac Morgan looked absolutely exhausted. 

That’s understandable. He had played every minute of Wales’s sorry campaign, making more tackles (92) than anyone else in the tournament, hitting more rucks than anyone bar Gregory Alldritt and doing it all while carrying his misfiring teammates on his back.

It would not have gone unnoticed that Morgan had his worst display of the tournament in the humiliation at the hands of England in Cardiff, where he was comprehensively outplayed by his direct opponent for a Lions starting berth, Ben Curry.

Wales has a fine heritage when it comes to the Lions, and although the number of tourists from Wales is paltry compared to recent years, in Morgan they have at least provided one of the best.

Backrow: Henry Pollock (ENG)

Northampton Saints & England |  1 cap (2 tries)  |  Lions tour debut

20yo, Banbury, ENG  |  186cm/100kg

Get used to this name, because it’s one you’re going to be hearing a lot of in rugby circles over the next few years.

Bruising and combative back row forwards are 10-a-penny in rugby union, and yet there is still something a little bit special about this youngster. 

Having captained England at under 18 and under 20 level — the latter of which saw him lift the 2024 under 20 Rugby World Championship — Pollock roared into senior team contention after starring for England A against Australia in London in November last year.

He made his senior debut off the bench in Cardiff as England romped to a belting victory against their arch nemesis, with Pollock scoring twice. 

His display against Leinster in Dublin for the Saints showed that he loves the limelight, laying down tackles on his senior rivals and scoring a wonderful try that embarrassed Sam Prendergast to such an extent that it may have been the deciding moment that saw him missing the trip. 

Every tour needs a bolter and Pollock has proven with his stellar performances this year that he is more than up to the task.

Backrow: Josh van der Flier (IRE)

Leinster & Ireland |  73 caps (13 tries)  |  Lions tour debut

32yo, Wicklow, IRE  |  186cm/103kg

Despite the name suggesting otherwise, Josh van der Flier is not one of the South African exiles playing in Europe.

In fact, he’s of Dutch stock, and was born and raised in Wicklow south of Dublin.

A keen thinker — he has a masters degree from Dublin Business School — van der Flier has been one of Ireland’s best for a number of years, winning the World Rugby player of the year award in 2022 and being named player of the series for the 2024 November internationals.

Nobody in an Ireland shirt made more tackles than him in the Six Nations, nor hit as many rucks as he did.

Scrum half: Jamison Gibson-Park (IRE)

Leinster & Ireland  |  43 caps (7 tries)  |  Lions tour debut

33yo, Great Barrier Island, NZ  |  175cm/80kg

A player who cut his teeth playing for Taranaki in the National Provincial Championships across the ditch, Jamison Gibson-Park was considered one of the rising stars of New Zealand rugby.

As a 20-year-old he was selected for the Māori All Blacks in 2012, before going on to play Super Rugby for the Blues and Hurricanes.

Staying in New Zealand though, was not Gibson-Park’s destiny, as he would move to Dublin in 2016, becoming eligible for Ireland on residency grounds in 2019.

He made his Ireland debut in 2020 and has since been awarded citizenship.

A shoe-in for the number nine jersey, Gibson-Park started the Six Nations brightly against England, but frankly dropped off as the tournament progressed. The Lions will want and need him on top form if they are to succeed Down Under.

Scrum half: Alex Mitchell (ENG)

Northampton Saints & England  |  23 caps (4 tries)  |  Lions tour debut

27yo, Maidstone, ENG  |  178cm/89kg

An exciting, running scrum half, Alex Mitchell was involved in five tries for England in the Six Nations, second most behind Northampton teammate Tommy Freeman.

And yet it is his form for Northampton that has undoubtedly got the 27-year-old Kent man on the plane.

Against Leinster last week he was exceptional, leading the Saints to an unlikely European final.

With Northampton providing four tourists, expect Mitchell to use his relationship with Fin Smith on the midweek team to great effect and work to get into that Test team.

Scrum half: Tomos Williams (WAL)

Gloucester & Wales  |  60 caps (10 tries)  |  Lions tour debut

30yo, Treorchy, WAL  |  180cm/86kg

There’s no hiding from Wales’s abysmal Six Nations campaign, but among the ashes of a once fine rugby nation, Tomos Williams still flickered.

From the former mining region of the Rhondda Fawr Valley, Williams will be upholding Welsh pride on tour alongside his country skipper Jac Morgan.

Given Wales’s fine history with the Lions, there’s no wonder he admitted to shedding a tear when he heard he had made the squad.

A darting runner who honed his speed of foot and mind on the sevens circuit, the ex-Cardiff man will relish having a pack in front of him that’s not going backwards at a rate of knots when he suits up for the Lions.

Fly half: Finn Russell (SCO)

Bath & Scotland  |  85 caps (415pts, 9 tries)  |  1 Lions Test cap

32yo, Stirling, SCO  |  182cm/87kg

Mercurial. Established. Flashy. Take your pick of adjectives to describe Finn Russell. But one thing you can be sure of is his will to win.

In a Six Nations tournament filled with young pretenders for the Lions 10 shirt, Russell could be considered a safe pair of hands — although the veteran did have his moments with some careless play against Ireland and some terrible goal-kicking against England.

Despite those lapses Scotland has, under his guidance, developed one of the best attacking back lines in the world, albeit one that did not quite have the cutting edge he or coach Gregor Townsend would have hoped for during the Northern Hemisphere spring.

He is the top scorer in the Premiership for Bath, with 148 points (five penalties, 59 conversions and three tries), which should be an indication his ability off the tee has not been dulled.

With even more weapons at his disposal and a brutally strong pack ahead of him, what could Russell do for the Lions? We may not have to wonder too long. 

Fly half: Fin Smith (ENG)

Northampton Saints & England  |  11 caps (29pts)  |  Lions tour debut

22yo, Warwick, ENG  |  178cm/87kg

Just a couple of months ago nobody would have thought Fin Smith would be anything other than deserving of a cursory mention when it came to the British and Irish Lions squad — perhaps only in passing as reference to his grandfather, Tom Elliot, the Scotland prop who played eight tour games but no Tests on the 1955 Lions tour of South Africa. 

Yet, after a superb Six Nations and a series of magical performances for the Saints in both the Premiership and European Cup competition, young Fin forced himself into the conversation.

Having been named in the Premiership team of the season and the Players Association players’ player of the year in 2023/24 should have been a clue as to the trajectory his career was on, but managing to convert that domestic form into the international stage was something else.

His performances up against fellow young gun, Sam Prendergast would have made a particular impression on the selection team just last week when the youngster helped guide the Saints to a hugely unexpected victory over Leinster at the Aviva Stadium in the European Cup semifinal.

Fly half: Marcus Smith (ENG)

Harlequins & England  |  44 caps (14 tries, 314pts)  |  Lions tourist in 2021

26yo, Manila, PHI  |  175cm/82kg

One of the most thrilling broken-play players in world rugby, Marcus Smith should, perhaps, feel a little fortunate that he has been included in this Lions squad.

A year ago you’d have said the Harlequins man was a nailed-on starter for both the Lions and England, but with the rise of Fin Smith and a shift to fullback at international level, Marcus’s stock has fallen.

And yet, despite a dramatic drop-off in club form of late, there are few players in the world who can incite as much excitement as Smith does when he has his hands on the ball.

Whether he plays at 15 or 10 on tour, given the amount of ball the Lions will be expected to have, he could make hay against any opponent, with his versatility potentially making him an ideal bench player for the Test team.

Centre: Bundee Aki (IRE)

Connacht & Ireland  |  65 caps (18 tries)  |  1 Lions Test cap

35yo, Ōtāhuhu, NZ  |  178cm/102kg

It’s easy to think of Bundee Aki as another of New Zealand’s rugby refugees now plying his trade in Europe, but the 35-year-old veteran is so much more than that.

Moving from the Chiefs fresh after winning Super Rugby to unfashionable Connacht out on Ireland’s windswept west coast, Aki made the Westerners a genuine title force and even helped them win the Pro12 in 2015.

As Ireland has surged, so has Aki, winning two grand slams and three Six Nations titles in total since he made his debut in 2017, after completing his three years of residency.

Aki was criticised earlier in his career after admitting that he moved to Ireland primarily to play international rugby, but has embraced life so comprehensively in Galway that he has become a citizen in 2024.

“I love the people, I love the culture … There’s not a bad word I can speak about Ireland,” Aki said upon being made a citizen.

Centre: Elliot Daly (ENG)

Saracens & England  |  65 caps (131 points, 18 tries)  |  5 Lions Test caps (2017, 2021)

32yo, Croydon, ENG  |  178cm/83kg

He’s listed as a centre, but in reality Elliot Daly can play just about anywhere in the back line.

Immense under the high ball and a brutal attacking force, Daly will likely slot in at fullback as often as he will in the centres.

His enormous boot, capable of kicking penalty goals from beyond half way, may also prove vital.

Another of the backs in this squad to be in the incredibly small group of players who have played both for and against the touring side.

In 2023, Daly played for the Barbarians who took on the touring Lions in Hong Kong.

Since then he has gone on to play five Tests, including all three in the dramatic drawn series against New Zealand in 2021.

Centre: Huw Jones (SCO)

Glasgow Warriors & Scotland  |  58 caps (23 tries)  |  Lions tour debut

31yo, Leith, SCO  |  186cm/102kg

Scotland to England to South Africa to Scotland and now the Lions — Huw Jones’s rugby life has already taken him plenty of places around the world.

Born in Scotland, Jones was educated in England before moving to South Africa, where he got his first taste of professional rugby with Western Province and then the Stormers in Super Rugby.

The call of home was always there though and he moved to the Glasgow Warriors where, either side of a season at Harlequins, he has remained ever since.

A hard-running and skilful ball carrier whose ability to unpick a defence with lines few can see let alone defend against, Jones has been one of the stars in a backline full of them for the Scots in recent years — particularly in partnership with former Australian Sione Tuipulotu.

Although he has not played since the Six Nations on account of an ankle injury, he had plenty of credit in the bank to keep his spot in the squad.

Centre: Garry Ringrose (IRE)

Leinster & Ireland  |  67 caps (77 points, 15 tries)  |  Lions tour debut

30yo, Blackrock, Co Dublin, IRE  |  185cm/102kg

A fleet-of-foot centre who has been a fixture in the Ireland set-up since 2016, Gary Ringrose is a multiple winner at club and international level.

One of the most skilled ball-handlers in the game, Ringrose has the ability to unlock defences with a hint of a swerve as much as a powerful fend.

Being sent off for a high tackle against Wales — and a subsequent three-match ban — limited his international appearances this season.

But there was little concern that Andy Farrell would leave one of his most dependable backs at home.

Centre: Sione Tuipulotu (SCO)

Glasgow Warriors & Scotland  |  58 caps (23 tries)  |  Lions tour debut

28yo, Melbourne, AUS  |  179cm/104kg

The Melbourne Rebels are, sadly, no more, but they will be represented in some small way at least on this year’s Lions tour.

A graduate of the Rebels set-up, Sione Tuipulotu felt like his Lions dream was over after he suffered a pectoral injury in January that has kept him out of action until May.

Fortunately, Andy Farrell had already seen enough from this adopted Scot, who qualified for the tartan army on account of his grandmother.

And it’s a fitting reward for what has been a stunning rise for the Australian-born centre, who has inarguably been the heart and soul of Scotland’s rise into genuine contenders in recent years as captain.

In November, Tuipulotu clashed with Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, so that might be one to keep an eye on Down Under.

Wing: Tommy Freeman (ENG)

Northampton & England  |  20 caps (7 tries)  |  Lions tour debut

24yo, Oxford, ENG  |  188cm/92kg

Tommy Freeman made history during the 2025 Six Nations, becoming the first Englishman to score a try in each round of fixtures — even if the legitimacy of the try awarded against Scotland at Twickenham is justifiably contested north of the border.

One of the rising stars of England rugby, Freeman combines powerful running with electric speed and finishing ability — everything you could ask for from a winger, in other words.

Overall he has 16 tries from 17 starts for Northampton, and five in nine for England this season.

He made his starting debut for England at Lang Park in 2022 under Eddie Jones, perhaps he’ll make his Lions debut there too.

Wing: Mack Hansen (IRE)

Connacht & Ireland  |  28 caps (12 tries)  |  Lions tour debut

27yo, Canberra, AUS  |  188cm/89kg

Mack Hansen suffered an ankle injury that will force him to miss the last few rounds of the United Rugby Championship, which must have meant he feared for his spot on this year’s Lions tour, especially given the impressive form of Scotland’s Darcy Graham.

He needn’t have worried, despite professing to being “speechless” for the first time in his life.

Despite not having the most prolific of Six Nations tournaments, the Australian-born winger with an Irish mother has been a key member of Andy Farrell’s back line for Ireland and was, if not a certainty for selection, a pretty safe bet.

Hansen was one of the first players interviewed after the squad was announced, telling the event at the O2 via Zoom that he had just been about to go for a swim on Ireland’s west coast. In May. You can take the boy out of Australia …

Wing: James Lowe (IRE)

Leinster & Ireland  |  40 caps (17 tries)  |  Lions tour debut

32yo, Nelson, NZ  |  188cm/101kg

Not many players will have played both against the British and Irish Lions as well as for them, but that’s a rare honour that James Lowe will likely achieve this tour. 

Lowe first played against the Lions in 2017, when he appeared at fullback for the Māori All Blacks in their 32-10 defeat against the Lions in Rotorua.

That was the last of Lowe’s eight caps for the Māori. Fast forward eight years and Lowe has 40 international appearances for Ireland under his belt and a reputation as one of the most dangerously powerful wingers in the world.

Wing: Duhan van der Merwe (SCO)

Edinburgh & Scotland  |  49 caps (32 tries)  |  3 Lions Test caps

29yo, George, RSA  |  193cm/106kg

Nothing short of a try-scoring machine he may be, but Duhan van der Merwe does have his critics, summarised succinctly by Rugby World this week:

It’s a fair enough statement.

This monstrous winger tore up the record books as a kid in the Western Cape, earning a spot as part of the South Africa squad that finished runners-up at the 2014 Junior World Championship.

A move to Montpellier in 2016 didn’t really work out, but shifting north to Edinburgh proved the trick, with the club signing him despite question marks over a hip injury.

Injury is clouding him in the lead-up to this Lions Tour, an ankle injury requiring surgery has kept him out the Edinburgh line up since March.

Fullback: Hugo Keenan (IRE)

Leinster & Ireland  |  46 caps (13 tries)  |  Lions tour debut

28yo, Dublin, IRE  |  185cm/92kg

A Paris 2024 Olympian with the Ireland Sevens team, Hugo Keenan displays all the skills needed to break lines and tackles at will in the 15s game as well.

Equally capable at fullback or the wing, Keenan is super capable under the high ball and is very dangerous in broken play — kicking to him is ill-advised.

Another of Leinster’s bevvy of stars who will line up for the Lions — 12 of the touring squad play in the blue of Leinster.

Fullback: Blair Kinghorn (SCO)

Stade Toulousain & Scotland  |  60 caps (146 pts, 16 tries)  |  Lions tour debut

28yo, Edinburgh, SCO  |  193cm/107kg

The stand out 15 of the home nations during the past Six Nations, nothing would stop Blair Kinghorn being named in this squad.

That’s despite him likely to miss at least the first tour match in Perth against the Force due to Toulouse’s Top14 finals commitments. The final of the Top14 — of which Toulouse are runaway leaders of at the moment — takes place on the same day as the Lions’ first match in Australia, June 28.

But given Kinghorn’s skill set — barring scrumhalf he can reasonably be expected to slot in anywhere in the back line should the need arise — there was no doubt that the ex-Edinburgh man would make the trip, no matter how delayed he is.