Andy Farrell has named 15 Irish players in his 2025 Lions squad for the tour of Australia.
However there is no place for Caelan Doris and Sam Prendergast who have missed out. Indeed, Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan, Tadhg Furlong, Ronan Kelleher, Joe McCarthy, Andrew Porter, James Ryan, Dan Sheehan and Josh van der Flier are included in the forwards.
Whereas, in the backs, Bundee Aki, Jamison Gibson-Park, Mack Hansen, Hugo Keenan, James Lowe and Garry Ringrose are among those on the plane.
Whereas, Farrell has named Maro Itoje as captain. Itoje will skipper the 38-man squad in his third tour.
"I want to congratulate Maro on being named captain of The British & Irish Lions” said head coach Andy Farrell.
"This is a great honour for Maro, his family and everyone who has supported him throughout his career from Saracens to England - and on to The Lions in 2017 and 2021.
"As a two-time tourist, Maro fully understands what The Lions is all about and also the role of the captain in helping the group achieve its goal of winning a Test Series this summer."
"It feels amazing to be named Lions captain” explains Itoje. “I’m deeply honoured, humbled and I will do my best to do the role justice”.
"I am very much looking forward to the challenge ahead, it’s going to be a great Tour. I know the appetite amongst the players is extremely high, everyone is hungry to be a Lion and I can’t wait to play my role."
26 first time tourists included
The squad features 26 first time tourists, while nine players will participate in their second Lions Tour. Tadhg Furlong and Elliot Daly have also been selected for a third Lions Tour.
Indeed, Northampton Saints back row Henry Pollock is the youngest member of the touring party at just 20 years of age.
"Since we met as a coaching unit for the very first time six weeks ago” explained Farrell. “We have been discussing more than 75 players of interest”.
"But the key job is getting that squad balance right as we prepare for a long and demanding tour that finishes with a Three Test Series against the Wallabies”.
"I am very excited about working with this group and believe they have the capacity to achieve something special and add to the Lions legacy."
The Lions will face Argentina in the 1888 Cup in Dublin, Ireland on Friday, June 20 before heading down under.
Whereas, the Tour includes fixtures against Western Force, Queensland Reds, NSW Waratahs, ACT Brumbies, ANZAC Invitational XV, First Nations & Pasifika XV and three Tests against Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies.
The British & Irish Lions Squad
Forwards: (21)
Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby/Ireland)
Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers/England)
Jack Conan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks/England)
Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors/ Scotland)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks/England)
Ben Earl (Saracens/England)
Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland)
Tadhg Furlong (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears/England)
Maro Itoje (Saracens/England) (C)
Ronan Kelleher (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
Joe McCarthy (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
Jac Morgan (Ospreys/Wales)
Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints/England)
Andrew Porter (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
James Ryan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
Dan Sheehan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby/Scotland)
Will Stuart (Bath Rugby/England)
Josh van der Flier (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
Backs: (17)
Bundee Aki (Connacht Rugby/Ireland)
Elliot Daly (Saracens/England)
Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints/England)
Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
Mack Hansen (Connacht Rugby/Ireland)
Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland)
Hugo Keenan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse/Scotland)
James Lowe (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints/England)
Garry Ringrose (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
Finn Russell (Bath Rugby/Scotland)
Fin Smith (Northampton Saints/England)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins/ England)
Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland)
Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby/Scotland)
Tomos Williams (Gloucester Rugby/Wales)
