Maro Itoje has been named captain of the British & Irish Lions squad for their highly anticipated 2025 tour to Australia.
Head coach Andy Farrell unveiled the 38-man squad at a historic live event attended by over 2,000 fans at Indigo at The O2 in London the first time a Lions squad has been announced in front of a live audience.
Itoje, who is embarking on his third Lions Tour, will lead the squad where in total, 26 players are set to make their Lions debuts, while nine others return for a second time.
Veterans Tadhg Furlong and Elliot Daly have been selected for their third consecutive Tours. Northampton Saints’ rising star Henry Pollock, aged just 20, is the youngest member of the squad.
Speaking at the unveiling, Farrell said:
“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.”
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Itoje, who was the youngest player on the Lions’ 2017 Tour of New Zealand, has featured in all six of the Lions’ most recent Test matches and was named Player of the Series during the 2021 Tour of South Africa.
Reacting to his appointment as captain, Itoje said:
“It feels amazing to be named Lions captain. I’m deeply honoured, humbled, and I will do my best to do the role justice.”
Before flying to Australia, the Lions will face Argentina in the 1888 Cup at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on Friday, June 20. The tour itself includes clashes against the Western Force, Queensland Reds, NSW Waratahs, ACT Brumbies, an ANZAC Invitational XV, a First Nations & Pasifika XV, and culminates in three crucial Test matches against Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies.
British & Irish Lions 2025 Squad
Forwards (21 players):
Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby/Ireland) #838
Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers/England)
Jack Conan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #839
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks/England) #851
Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks/England) #853
Ben Earl (Saracens/England)
Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland) #848
Tadhg Furlong (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #818
Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears/England)
Maro Itoje (Saracens/England) #825 (Captain)
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 players):
Bundee Aki (Connacht Rugby/Ireland) #837
Elliot Daly (Saracens/England) #822
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) #835
Fin Smith (Northampton Saints/England)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins/England) #855
Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland)
Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby/Scotland) #841
Tomos Williams (Gloucester Rugby/Wales)
