British and Irish Lions Coach Overlooks Son as Australians Selected for Tour

Maro Itoje is set to lead a British and Irish Lions squad on their upcoming tour of Australia, which features 15 players from Ireland, just two from Wales, and only one Englishman who has seen a mere 30 minutes of international rugby.

A 38-man touring party was revealed on Thursday before a crowd exceeding 2,000 rugby enthusiasts at The O2 arena in London. The 30-year-old Itoje becomes the first English player to take on the captaincy of the Lions — one of the highest accolades in the sport — since Martin Johnson in 2001.

This marks Itoje’s third tour, following stints in 2017 and 2021, completing his ascent as a leader after he was appointed captain of both England and Saracens this season.

Upon hearing his name announced by Lions coach Andy Farrell, Itoje stepped forward in full Lions kit — accompanying the lion mascot, Bill — to warm applause.

“It’s an incredible honour and privilege,” Itoje, who has earned 93 caps for England, shared.

“To be honest, it’s a bit surreal.”

Farrell had initially phoned Itoje on Tuesday to deliver the news, but the call was hindered by a poor signal which prompted Farrell to hang up. He called back shortly after to formally extend the captaincy offer.

Itoje’s opportunity to captain the Lions may have been expedited by the injury to Caelan Doris, the Ireland captain, who suffered a shoulder injury playing for Leinster against Northampton Saints in the Champions Cup semi-finals last weekend.

NEW PODCAST! Should Super Rugby Pacific aim for the American dream and is James O’Connor really set to play against the Lions 12 years on?

Doris, a standout No.8, would have been a guaranteed selection but was unable to be included.

“As you can imagine, he is heartbroken,” stated Farrell.

“Commiserations to those who expected to be selected today. Circumstances can change on tour or even before you board the plane. Everyone with ambitions, keep pushing, stay fit, and we will be keeping an eye on you.”

Injuries are expected as the tourists prepare to depart for Australia in late June.

In 2021, Ireland’s Andrew Porter withdrew due to a toe injury. He’s made the cut again.

Tour captain Alun Wyn Jones and Dan Lydiate suffered injuries during the warm-up victory over Japan.

Jones recovered from a dislocated shoulder in time to participate in the Tests against South Africa.

Pollock the surprise selection

The match between Leinster and Northampton was significant for another reason.

Twenty-year-old flanker Henry Pollock, who was relatively unknown prior to this season, delivered a stunning man-of-the-match performance for Northampton in their unexpected win, securing his place in the Lions squad and continuing his remarkable rise in the rugby realm.

Pollock has made just one appearance for England, scoring a try in the second half against Wales during the final round of the recent Six Nations.

He began the championship with the England Under-20s and had only played one match in England’s premier league before this season.

The unexpected name in Farrell’s squad, which comprises some of the finest talent from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, was watching the squad announcement on television with his Northampton teammates, and erupted in celebration when his name was called.

“If you’re good enough, you’re old enough,” Farrell remarked.

A father’s tough decision

Owen Farrell, son of the coach and aiming for a fourth consecutive Lions tour, was notably absent from the selection.

Instead, fellow Englishmen Fin Smith and Marcus Smith, along with Scotland’s Finn Russell, were the preferred fly-half options.

Since the 2023 World Cup, Farrell has stepped away from international rugby to focus on his mental well-being. He has since departed English rugby for a move to France, joining Racing 92 in Paris, but suffered a head injury in a controversial season.

“He was in the conversation,” Andy Farrell shared about his son.

“We believe Owen is still working towards regaining his fitness.”

Besides Farrell, other fly-half candidates to miss out on selection include Ireland’s Sam Prendergast and England’s veteran George Ford.

Nations divide

Only Ireland boasts a higher representation with their 15 players surpassing England’s 13.

Scotland will send eight representatives to the tour.

Two Australian-born players have made the squad: centre Sione Tuipulotu and winger Mack Hansen.

Additionally, there is a strong representation from New Zealand with James Lowe, Jamison Gibson-Park, and Bundee Aki making the cut.

Wales will send just two players: scrumhalf Tomos Williams and flanker Jac Morgan, marking their smallest representation since World War II and coming off a streak of 17 consecutive Test losses since 2023.

“I felt no pressure whatsoever” to select Welsh players, noted Farrell.

Williams shared that he teared up when he heard his name, commenting, “This is the pinnacle — it doesn’t get better than this achievement.”

This squad is relatively inexperienced, with 26 players set to embark on their first tour and nine making their second.

Huwipulotu’s return

Scotland centres Tuipulotu and Huw Jones—affectionately known as Huwipulotu—were selected based on previous form.

Tuipulotu was nearly a certain Lions starter until he tore a pectoral muscle in late January, a blow to Scotland’s Six Nations chances.

He’s close to making a comeback.

Jones has been sidelined since the Six Nations due to an ankle injury.

Scotland’s all-time leading try-scorer Duhan van der Merwe was included in the squad despite being absent since late March following ankle surgery. Rugged lock Scott Cummings also missed the Six Nations but has returned from a three-month injury layoff.

Blair Kinghorn joins the squad as well, but if his club Toulouse reaches the French Top 14 final again on June 28, he won’t join the Lions until after their first match in Australia.

Upcoming tour details

The Lions triumphed in the last test series against the Wallabies during their 2013 tour of Australia. Since then, they drew with New Zealand in 2017 and faced defeat in South Africa in 2021.

For this tour, the Lions will compete in three Tests against the Wallabies and also face six additional matches in Australia—against the Western Force, Queensland Reds, NSW Waratahs, ACT Brumbies, an Invitational Australia and New Zealand XV, and a First Nations and Pasifika XV.

The tour kicks off with a match against Argentina in Dublin on June 20 and wraps up with the series finale scheduled for August 2.

Squad List

Forwards: Tadhg Beirne (Ireland), Ollie Chessum (England), Jack Conan (Ireland), Luke Cowan-Dickie (England), Scott Cummings (Scotland), Tom Curry (England), Ben Earl (England), Zander Fagerson (Scotland), Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), Ellis Genge (England), Maro Itoje (England, captain), Ronan Kelleher (Ireland), Joe McCarthy (Ireland), Jac Morgan (Wales), Henry Pollock (England), Andrew Porter (Ireland), James Ryan (Ireland), Pierre Schoeman (Scotland), Dan Sheehan (Ireland), Will Stuart (England), Josh van der Flier (Ireland)

Backs: Bundee Aki (Ireland), Elliot Daly (England), Tommy Freeman (England), Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland), Mack Hansen (Ireland), Huw Jones (Scotland), Hugo Keenan (Ireland), Blair Kinghorn (Scotland), James Lowe (Ireland), Alex Mitchell (England), Gary Ringrose (Ireland), Finn Russell (Scotland), Fin Smith (England), Marcus Smith (England), Sione Tuipulotu (Scotland), Duane van der Merwe (Scotland), Tomos Williams (Wales)