Maro Itoje Named British And Irish Lions Captain As Andy Farrell’s Full Squad Revealed For Australia Tour

England skipper Maro Itoje has been named British and Irish Lions captain ahead of this summer’s tour to Australia, with the full 38-man squad announced.

A packed-out O2 Arena in London witnessed the live squad announcement as the 38 players selected for the British and Irish Lions tour were revealed.

Itoje was one of two players hotly tipped to be named captain, alongside Ireland’s Caelan Doris.

But a shoulder injury for Doris in last weekend’s Champions Cup semi-final now means he will miss the tour.

Elsewhere, there was a call-up for young Northampton and England wonder-kid Henry Pollock.

The 20-year-old exploded onto the international scene with two tries on debut against Wales in March, having played only one Premiership game before this season.

There is no room on the plane to Australia for former England captain Owen Farrell, son of Lions head coach Andy.

Irish fly-half Sam Prendergast also misses out, with English duo Fin Smith and Marcus Smith ing Scottish playmaker Finn Russell as the three options at ten.

Wales captain Jac Morgan and scrum-half Tomos Williams are the only Welsh players in the squad.

A woeful Six Nations campaign saw them lose all five games, severely harming Welsh representation.

Toulouse fullback Blair Kinghorn is the only -based player selected, with no Farrell or Jack Willis.

Dan Sheehan, Ronan Kelleher and Luke Cowan-Dickie are the hookers. England’s Jamie George and Wales’ Dewi Lake miss out.

Leinster are the best-represented club side, with 12 players in the squad.

Maro Itoje First English Lions Captain Since 2001

Now leading the Lions after touring in 2017 and 2021, Maro Itoje will become the first Englishman to captain the side since Martin Johnson in 2001.

Itoje took over the England captaincy ahead of this year’s Six Nations, leading them to a second-place finish behind champions .

The first few words from our captain, @maroitoje 🫡#Lions2025 #WeGoBeyond pic.twitter.com/FvsjtVJkQO

— British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) May 8, 2025

Ireland captain Doris is undergoing shoulder surgery this week, ruling him out for the tour and leaving Itoje as the obvious choice for captaincy.

He was revealed in front of a live audience on Thursday afternoon, ahead of the full squad announcement.

Itoje said: “It feels amazing, I’m deeply honoured, humbled. I don’t really have the words.

“It’s a great honour and I’ll do my best to do the role justice.”

Only Two Welsh Players In 2025 Lions Squad

At one stage, it was feared that not a single Welshman would be boarding the flight to Australia next month.

But despite a dreadful Six Nations performance and record-breaking home defeat to England in their last outing, Wales do have a couple of representatives in the Lions squad.

Skipper Jac Morgan was outstanding for his country despite being on the losing side.

He is ed by scrum-half Tomos Williams, who has been excellent for Gloucester in the English Premiership.

Williams, 30, was at home when he received news of his call-up, and itted he “shed a tear” upon finding out.

Henry Pollock Rugby Hype Train Keeps Rolling

A selection that’s got many fans excited is the inclusion of 20-year-old Northampton Saints and England back rower Henry Pollock.

The former England U20 captain has been lighting up the Premiership all season, and won his first senior international cap in the Six Nations.

Some questioned wether he was ready to step up to the level of the Lions, suggesting the next tour in four years time might be better for him.

But those doubters were silenced at the weekend, as his Northampton side beat heavy favourites Leinster 37-34 in Dublin to book their place in the European Champions Cup final.

🏉 Henry Pollock with an emphatic try 🔥pic.twitter.com/ngrBGpesPs

— Ultimate Rugby (@ultimaterugby) May 3, 2025

Pollock was a key figure, scoring a brilliant individual try, and made 18 tackles – the most of any player.

The youngster was superb in helping his side to victory against a team containing almost the entire Ireland starting XV, as well as world class stars such as South Africa’s RG Snyman and New Zealand’s Jordie Barrett.

Pollock will be the youngest player on tour. He will therefore be entrusted with Lions mascot ‘BIL’, a large cuddly Lion.

This year’s captain Maro Itoje also had the honour of looking after BIL back in 2017.

British And Irish Lions Squad 2025

Backs

• 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)

Forwards

• 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) (Capt)
• 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)
• Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby/Scotland)
• Dan Sheehan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
• Will Stuart (Bath Rugby/England)
• Josh van der Flier (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)

The 2025 Lions and their clubs 🔴🦁#Lions2025 #WeGoBeyond pic.twitter.com/6w50tw9oA5

— British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) May 8, 2025

British And Irish Lions Fixtures 2025

• Friday, 20 June – Lions v Argentina, Dublin (Aviva Stadium)
• Saturday, 28 June – Lions v Western Force, Perth (Optus Stadium)
• Wednesday, 2 July – Lions v Queensland Reds, Brisbane (Suncorp Stadium)
• Saturday, 5 July – Lions v NSW Waratahs, Sydney (Allianz Stadium)
• Wednesday, 9 July – Lions v ACT Brumbies, Canberra (GIO Stadium)
• Saturday, 12 July – Lions v Invitational AU & NZ, Adelaide (Adelaide Oval)
• Saturday, 19 July – Lions v Australia, First Test, Brisbane (Suncorp Stadium)
• Tuesday, 22 July – Lions v Melbourne Rebels, Melbourne (Marvel Stadium)
• Saturday, 26 July – Lions v Australia, Second Test, Melbourne (Melbourne Cricket Ground/MCG)
• Saturday, 2 August – Lions v Australia, Third Test, Sydney (Accor Stadium)