British & Irish Lions 2025 Squad: Meet the 38 Players Set to Take on Australia

The British & Irish Lions squad for 2025 includes 38 players from England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, all vying for spots in the Test match squad for their upcoming series against Australia. Here’s a profile of each player, divided by position:

Hookers

• Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale, England) – Age: 31, Caps: 49, Lions Caps: 3. After a two-year injury layoff, Cowan-Dickie returned to the England fold, showing strong technical improvements and an active presence in the game.
• Rónan Kelleher (Leinster, Ireland) – Age: 28, Caps: 39. Known for his solid set-piece work, Kelleher’s career looked promising when he debuted in 2020, but the rise of Dan Sheehan has limited his opportunities.
• Dan Sheehan (Leinster, Ireland) – Age: 26, Caps: 32. A dynamic and powerful hooker, Sheehan is a strong contender for starting the Test matches, having been a top performer in recent campaigns.

Props

• Zander Fagerson (Glasgow, Scotland) – Age: 29, Caps: 75. A consistent performer in the front row, Fagerson is known for his strength in scrums and work around the field.
• Tadhg Furlong (Leinster, Ireland) – Age: 32, Caps: 79, Lions Caps: 6. A mainstay in the front row, Furlong has been pivotal in Lions tours and remains a key figure for both Leinster and Ireland.
• Ellis Genge (Bristol, England) – Age: 30, Caps: 71. Known for his leadership and aggressive style of play, Genge brings plenty of physicality to the pack.
• Andrew Porter (Leinster, Ireland) – Age: 29, Caps: 75. A versatile and powerful prop, Porter has been an essential part of the Irish scrum and is equally effective in open play.
• Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh, Scotland) – Age: 31, Caps: 42. A combative prop, Schoeman is known for his presence in the tight exchanges and his passionate play.
• Will Stuart (Bath, England) – Age: 28, Caps: 50. A no-nonsense tighthead, Stuart has stepped up in recent Six Nations campaigns and will be a key asset for the Lions.

Locks

• Tadhg Beirne (Munster, Ireland) – Age: 33, Caps: 61, Lions Caps: 2. A lock who thrives in both the second and back rows, Beirne is a dynamic player known for his work in the air and at the breakdown.
• Ollie Chessum (Leicester, England) – Age: 24, Caps: 28. A young lock who offers flexibility in the pack, Chessum’s versatility makes him a valuable player for the Lions tour.
• Scott Cummings (Glasgow, Scotland) – Age: 28, Caps: 48. Cummings brings strength and leadership to the tight five, and despite limited rugby this season, he earned his spot on the Lions squad.
• Maro Itoje (Saracens, England) – Age: 30, Caps: 90, Lions Caps: 6. A dominant force in both the line-out and open play, Itoje’s leadership and consistency make him a cornerstone of the Lions’ squad.
• Joe McCarthy (Leinster, Ireland) – Age: 24, Caps: 19. A promising young lock, McCarthy’s standout performances in key matches have earned him a spot in the squad.
• James Ryan (Leinster, Ireland) – Age: 28, Caps: 72. A reliable technician in the line-out and set-piece, Ryan is a stalwart in the Irish lock pairing and a regular for the Lions.

Back Row

• Jack Conan (Leinster, Ireland) – Age: 32, Caps: 51, Lions Caps: 3. Known for his physicality and work rate, Conan is an aggressive back-row forward who will compete for the No 8 jersey.
• Tom Curry (Sale, England) – Age: 26, Caps: 61, Lions Caps: 3. A tireless openside flanker, Curry is known for his relentless work ethic and leadership qualities, making him an indispensable part of the team.
• Ben Earl (Saracens, England) – Age: 27, Caps: 42. A dynamic back-rower, Earl’s explosiveness and versatility make him a key asset for the Lions, capable of playing across the back row.
• Josh van der Flier (Leinster, Ireland) – Age: 32, Caps: 73. The World Player of the Year in 2022, van der Flier is an all-around back-row star, known for his tackling, turnover ability, and tireless running.
• Jac Morgan (Ospreys, Wales) – Age: 25, Caps: 18. A strong and dynamic back-row forward, Morgan’s leadership and physicality have earned him a starting spot in the squad.
• Henry Pollock (Northampton, England) – Age: 20, Caps: 1. A young and explosive forward, Pollock is a fearless player with the potential to make a significant impact during the tour.

Scrum-Halfs

• Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster, Ireland) – Age: 33, Caps: 43. A standout scrum-half, Gibson-Park brings pace and sharpness to the game, and is a likely starter in the Tests.
• Alex Mitchell (Northampton, England) – Age: 27, Caps: 23. A key player for Northampton, Mitchell’s dynamic play and quick service make him an important part of the Lions’ scrum-half options.
• Tomos Williams (Gloucester, Wales) – Age: 30, Caps: 63. A reliable scrum-half with excellent decision-making skills, Williams has been consistent for both Gloucester and Wales.

Fly-Halfs

• Finn Russell (Bath, Scotland) – Age: 32, Caps: 87, Lions Caps: 1. A brilliant playmaker with a creative mind, Russell’s ability to turn a game with his kicking and vision will be key for the Lions.
• Fin Smith (Northampton, England) – Age: 22, Caps: 11. A young and steady fly-half, Smith’s performance in key matches has earned him a place in the Lions squad.
• Marcus Smith (Harlequins, England) – Age: 26, Caps: 44. A versatile and exciting playmaker, Smith’s ability to change the course of a game makes him an important option for the Lions.

Centres

• Bundee Aki (Connacht, Ireland) – Age: 35, Caps: 65, Lions Caps: 1. A powerful and direct centre, Aki brings physicality and experience to the midfield.
• Huw Jones (Glasgow, Scotland) – Age: 31, Caps: 58. A skilful and explosive centre, Jones’s ability to break through defensive lines is a vital asset for the Lions.
• Garry Ringrose (Leinster, Ireland) – Age: 30, Caps: 67. A classy and intelligent centre, Ringrose’s smooth style and vision make him an excellent choice for the midfield.
• Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow, Scotland) – Age: 27, Caps: 30. A powerful and dynamic centre, Tuipulotu’s physicality and skill have made him a standout performer.

Wings

• Tommy Freeman (Northampton, England) – Age: 24, Caps: 20. A smart and skilful winger, Freeman’s ability to read the game and create scoring opportunities makes him a valuable asset.
• Mack Hansen (Connacht, Ireland) – Age: 27, Caps: 28. A maverick player, Hansen’s unpredictability and attacking flair will make him a key figure for the Lions.
• James Lowe (Leinster, Ireland) – Age: 32, Caps: 40. A deadly winger with exceptional footwork and kicking ability, Lowe is a constant threat on the ball.
• Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh, Scotland) – Age: 29, Caps: 49, Lions Caps: 3. Known for his size and speed, van der Merwe is a powerful winger who is always a threat near the try line.

Full-backs

• Elliot Daly (Saracens, England) – Age: 32, Caps: 73, Lions Caps: 5. A versatile and experienced full-back, Daly’s speed, kicking, and attacking ability make him a key player for the Lions.
• Hugo Keenan (Leinster, Ireland) – Age: 28, Caps: 46. A dynamic and reliable full-back, Keenan’s pace and safe hands under pressure make him a key asset for the Lions.
• Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse, Scotland) – Age: 28, Caps: 60. A versatile player who can cover full-back, wing, or fly-half, Kinghorn’s versatility and reliability make him an important member of the squad.

This diverse and talented squad promises to bring excitement and strength to the upcoming Lions tour of Australia.