The surprising rise of British Backrow Pollock continued after being nominated for the British and Irish Lions squad on his 2025 tour in Australia, including Marcus Smith, but Owen Farrell, Sam Prandelgust, Darcy Graham, Tom Jordan, Jamie George, Kahlan Doris and George for For Four
Andy Farrell nominated a team of 38 players at London’s O2 Arena on Thursday, while Malo Itoje was captain of the 2025 Lions. The 20-year-old Pollock, who made his Test debut in the UK in March, was a tour standout bolter, but included other eye-catching players.
Finn Smith, Finn Russell and Marcus Smith travel as three fly harvesters, but Daly cuts that it’s his third test. Blair Kinghorn is the only French-based player of choice, meaning that praised Jack Willis missed as Farrell nominated a team with 21 forwards and 17 backs.
Other notable omissions include Doris, who was considered the front line for captain, but suffered a shoulder injury in Rainster’s Champions Cup defeat to Northampton on Saturday. He is scheduled to undergo surgery this week and it appears that the injury has removed him from the tour.
Prendergast, Owen Farrell, Graham, Jordan, George, Ford, and others all participated in the mix, but Andy Farrell missed choosing eight Scotland players, two Welsh players, 13 and 15 from Ireland.
In the front row, Farrell went with Irish duo Dan Sheehan and hooker Ronan Kelleher, along with Luke Cowan Dicky of England. The props selected are Ellis Jenge of England, Will Stuart, Tad Furlong and Andrew Porter of Ireland, and Xander Fagerson and Pierre Schumann of Scotland.
Ireland’s Tadhg Beirne, Joe McCarthy and James Ryan were selected in the second row, while England’s Itoje and Ollie Chessum were also selected alongside Scotland’s Scott Cummings. In the backrow, British Pollock, Tom Curry and Ben Earl are called as well as Ireland’s Jack Conan and Josh van der Frier and Wales’ Jack Morgan.
On the back, Farrell chose three scrum harvesters: Alex Mitchell of England, Tomos Williams of Wales, and Jamison Gibson Park in Ireland.
The three fly harvesters are Russell from Scotland, Duofin Smith from England and Marcus Smith.
At the centre, Ireland’s Bandy Aki and Garry Ringrose nod alongside Scottish duo Who Jones and Cione Twiprotou, followed by the back three, England’s Elliot Daly and Tommy Freeman, Ireland’s James Lowe, Hugo Keenan and Mac Hansen, Scotland’s Duhan Van Del Melwe and Brain.
Full Lions Forces of the UK and Ireland:
forward: Tadhg Beirne, Ollie Chessum, Jack Conan, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Scott Cummings, Tom Curry, Ben Earl, Zander Fagerson, Tadhg Furlong, Ellis Genge, Maro Itoje, Ronan Kelleher, Joe McCarthy, Jac Morgan, Henry Pollock, Jam Stuart, and Josh van der Flyer.
back: Bundee Aki, Elliot Daly, Tommy Freeman, Jamison Gibson-Park, Mack Hansen, Huw Jones, Hugo Keenan, Blair Kinghorn, James Lowe, Alex Mitchell, Garry Ringrose, Finn Russell, Fin Smith, Marcus Smith, Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe
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