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Australians Sione Tuipulotu and Mack Hansen will return Down Under next month after being picked in Andy Farrell’s 38-man Lions squad to face the Lions.
The duo were picked despite form and fitness concerns, with Scottish captain Tuipulotu sidelined for months with a pectoral injury while Irish wing Hansen recently picked up an ankle injury that will keep the former Brumby grounded for at least a month.
Tuipulotu’s inclusion means he’s in-line to square up against Wallabies sensation Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii less than a year after spraying his counterpart at Murrayfield during Scotland’s big win at home.
The Melbourne-born midfielder was one of two inside centres named in the squad alongside New Zealander Bundee Aki and continued his extraordinary rise after continually being looked past at the Rebels. Fellow Kiwis James Lowe and Jamison Gibson-Park were also selected.
Scotland’s Sione Tuipulotu celebrates after scoring against the Wallabies at Murrayfield on November 24, 2024, in Edinburgh. (Photo by Ross Parker/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Despite Ireland finishing a fraction behind England on this year’s Six Nations standings, Farrell chose 15 Irishmen in the squad. There were 13 Englishmen chosen, eight Scottish and two Welsh – the nation’s lowest representation and a sudden drop off from the ten players picked for the 2021 tour of South Africa.
Farrell also left out his son, Owen, whose move to Parisian club Racing 92 has been slowed by injuries and a concussion over the weekend, which cruelled his hopes of making a late comeback. George Ford also missed the cut.
Nor was there room for rising Irish fly-half Sam Prendergast.
Instead, Farrell picked Scottish maverick Finn Russell and English duo Fin and Marcus Smith.
England’s Maro Itoje was named captain of the squad that features 21 forwards and 17 backs, with Farrell hailing him as “a special person”.
Itoje, 30, is the first Black player to captain the Lions and only the third Englishman in 89 years to be appointed leader of the touring side.
When his name was read out by Lions coach Andy Farrell, Itoje walked out in full Lions kit – holding the lion mascot, Bill – to huge applause from a 1800-strong audience.
“It’s a tremendous honour and privilege,” he said.
British & Irish Lions captain Maro Itoje (L) and Head Coach Andy Farrell after the British & Irish Lions Squad and Captain announcement for the 2025 Tour of Australia at The O2 in London. (Photo By Ben McShane/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
But there was an anxious wait for the rest of the squad to learn whether they had been selected as they watched the TV.
“To be honest, I’m struggling to speak a bit. I’m just relieved, excited, everything you could imagine … it’s unreal,” said Tuipulotu.
“I’ve been back in full training for the last couple of weeks, hitting things again and I’m feeling really good. It’s either this week or next week that I’ll be able to play again.”
Winger Hansen is one of Farrell’s favourites, having done such a fine job for the Englishman when he was in charge in Dublin.
“I’m lost for words for the first time in my life,” said Hansen. “It’s incredible.”
Henry Pollock who was selected ahead of Jack Willis, Ben Curry and Australian Jack Dempsey, was the bolter in the squad, having lit up the Aviva Stadium last weekend in Northampton’s thumping win over Leinster.
The exciting 20-year-old English flanker has played just 32 minutes of Test rugby, but that didn’t stop Farrell continuing his extraordinary rise.
“If you’re good enough, you’re old enough,” Farrell said of Pollock.
“I’ve heard a lot of stuff that is constant, really, about young kids that are coming through — [that] he’s confident, he’s cocky. This is not just about Henry, this is about youngsters in general. But what do we want? Do we want a kid to show his confidence as a 23-year-old, 24-year-old instead of 20?
“It’s just about the here and now, isn’t it? If he’s performing against the type of quality that he has been doing, then he’s ready. I’m sure he’ll push all the others that didn’t realise that he was coming.”
Maro Itoje (second left), with head coach Andy Farrell, Chair and Tour Manager of the British & Irish Lions Ieuan Evans (right) and presenter Lee McKenzie (left) during the British and Irish Lions Squad Announcement in the AmEx Lounge at The O2. (Photo by John Walton/PA Images via Getty Images)
Farrell said that he has left “a couple of slots open” for call-ups, particularly for his son, Owen, who has endured an injury-hit season at Racing 92.
The 33-year-old, a veteran of three previous Lions tours, has suffered from adductor and knee issues in France, and was knocked out last Sunday in the Challenge Cup semi-final against Lyon.
“He was in the conversation, obviously — an experienced player like that who is going for his fourth tour,” Farrell Sr said of his son. “You cover all bases, that’s for sure, with the leadership qualities and all of that. But we got to a point where, like a few other players, we feel that Owen’s still trying to find his way a little bit back to fitness.
“There’s 38 picked, which leaves a couple of slots open for us down the track if and when needed. And Owen, like a few other guys as well, would be in that type of bracket.”
The Lions will kick-off their preparations for the three Tests against the Wallabies with a stand-alone match against Argentina in Dublin on June 21 (AEST).
Farrell’s men will then fly to Perth to commence their nine-match tour on Australian shores, where they will play the Western Force on June 28.
THE BRITISH AND IRISH LIONS SQUAD FOR THE TOUR OF AUSTRALIA
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) – 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), Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby/Scotland), Dan Sheehan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), Will Stuart (Bath Rugby/England), Josh van der Flier (Leinster Rugby/Ireland).
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).
The 2025 British and Irish Lions Tour of Australia
Western Force v British & Irish Lions at 5:45pm AWST on Saturday 28 June at Optus Stadium, Perth
Queensland Reds v British & Irish Lions at 7:45pm AEST on Wednesday 2 July at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
New South Wales Waratahs v British & Irish Lions at 7:45pm AEST on Saturday 5 July at Allianz Stadium, Sydney
ACT Brumbies v British & Irish Lions at 7:45pm AEST on Wednesday 9 July at GIO Stadium, Canberra
AUNZ Invitational XV v British & Irish Lions at 7:45pm AEST on Saturday 12 July at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
Wallabies v British & Irish Lions at 7:45pm AEST on Saturday July 19 at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
First Nations & Pasifika XV v British & Irish Lions at 7:45pm AEST on Tuesday 22 July at Marvel Stadium, Melbourne
Wallabies v British & Irish Lions at 7:45pm AEST on Saturday July 26 at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
Wallabies v British & Irish Lions at 7:45pm AEST on Saturday August 2 at Accor Stadium, Sydney
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.