British & Irish Lions squad named as Maro Itoje picked as captain for Australia tour

Andy Farrell has named his squad with getting the nod as captain. The Ireland head coach has chosen to include Northampton sensation Henry Pollock in the 38-man group that will head to - but Caelan Doris misses out late in the day through injury.

The Lions' last victory came 12 years ago Down Under, back when was in charge. Farrell was an assistant on that tour, and again in 2017, before getting the top job this time round.

He faced a number of difficult calls - most notably at fly-half and in the back-row. A number of players had put their hand up to wear the 10 shirt over the past year but Farrell has opted to take Finn Russell, Marcus Smith and Fin Smith.

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In the back row Doris, who had been tipped as a potential captain, has missed out after needing surgery on a shoulder injury. The Irishman has been an almost ever present for his country for several years but his injury blow has seen him miss out.

England duo Tom Curry and Ben Earl are also among those who will travel to Australia, with the First Test taking place on July 19 in Brisbane. There had been growing calls to have Pollock on the tour after his rapid rise with Northampton and Farrell has picked him despite the back row having just one cap to his name.

As expected Jamison Gibson-Park and Alex Mitchell are among the scrum-halves who will travel to Australia. Owen Farrell has been overlooked for the tour after an injury-hit season whilst in France with Racing 92. Sam Prendergast, the first choice Ireland 10, has also missed out.

The Lions begin their campaign with a match on home soil against Argentina at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on June 20. Several of those in contention to make the squad play their club rugby in France, but their domestic calendar overruns into the Lions warm-up games and that has potentially cost Jack Willis - although his Toulouse team-mate Blair Kinghorn is included.

Dan Sheehan was among the nailed on names and the Irishman is expected to start at hooker come the First Test. Behind him there was plenty of competition but Farrell has opted to bring Ronan Kelleher and Luke Cowan-Dickie on the tour.

Tadhg Furlong is picked for a third tour but is one of the few genuine Lions tourists who were present in 2017. That was the last traditional tour with the series in South Africa hampered by Covid and played behind closed doors. Of the Class of 2017 only Furlong, Daly and Itoje remain.

are well represented, particularly in the backs. The Scots have earned plenty of plaudits when it comes to their attack and Russell, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipilotu, Duhan Van der Merwe and Blair Kinghorn all see their form rewarded with Lions call-ups.

British and Irish Lions squad

Forwards

Tadhg Bierne (Munster and Ireland)

Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers and England)

Jack Conan (Leinster and Ireland)

Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale and England)

Scott Cummings (Glasgow and Scotland)

Tom Curry (Sale and England)

Ben Earl (Saracens and England)

Zander Fagerson (Glasgow and Scotland)

Tadhg Furlong (Leinster and Ireland)

Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears and England)

Maro Itoje (Saracens and England)

Ronan Kelleher (Leinster and Ireland)

Joe McCarthy (Leinster and Ireland)

Jac Morgan (Ospreys and Wales)

Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints and England)

Andrew Porter (Leinster and Ireland)

James Ryan (Leinster and Ireland)

Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh and Scotland)

Dan Sheehan (Leinster and Ireland)

Will Stuart (Bath and England)

Josh Van der Flier (Leinster and Ireland)

Backs

Bundee Aki (Connacht and Ireland)

Elliot Daly (Saracens and England)

Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints and England)

Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster and Ireland)

Mack Hansen (Connacht and Ireland)

Huw Jones (Glasgow and Scotland)

Hugo Keenan (Leinster and Ireland)

Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse and Scotland)

James Lowe (Leinster and Ireland)

Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints and England)

Garry Ringrose (Leinster and Ireland)

Finn Russell (Bath and Scotland)

Fin Smith (Northampton Saints and England)

Marcus Smith (Harlequins and England)

Sione Tuipilotu (Glasgow and Scotland)

Duhan Van der Merwe (Edinburgh and Scotland)

Tomos Williams (Gloucester and Wales)