19 h. ago The Itoje legacy: Nigerian roots shaped the Lions captain who has inspired a new generation

Maro Itoje’s rise to the very top of his sport brings both pride and idolisation from the British-Nigerian communityIt is 2017 and Maro Itoje has just been selected as the youngest member of the British & Irish Lions squad. He is asked for his favourite Lions memory and his response is illuminating. “Ugo Monye scoring his try in the third Test [against South Africa in 2009]. When you’re young and growing up, you look at players that look like you. And, by that, I don’t mean eyes, ears, nose, I mean who have the same skin colour, who you can identify with. Ugo is one I could identify with, as we’re both of Nigerian descent. To see him score that amazing try resonated with me.”On Saturday, when the Lions begin their series against Australia, Itoje will win his 100th Test cap. He is England captain, the first black captain of the Lions and the country’s most prominent rugby player. And you cannot help but wonder to what extent he himself has passed the torch. For there can be littl...

Politics

24 h. ago Truth behind awkward Lions photo emerges as Gavin Henson leaves Lawrence Dallaglio stunned

The former Wales and Lions star spoke about the 2005 tour to New Zealand and his prediction for the Australia game this weekend

Events

26 h. ago Two key areas where Scotland must improve in tour finale as Lions

Gregor Townsend makes five changes as Scots look to bounce back against Samoa

Politics

43 h. ago Future British & Irish Lions tour of France on the agenda at Melbourne summit

French federation puts forward hosting 2027 warm-upMeeting before second Test over new Lions modelA British & Irish Lions tour of France could move a step closer next week when executives hold talks over “a new business model” in Melbourne before the second Test of the series against Australia.Abdel Benazzi, the vice-president of the French federation (FFR), held informal discussions with Lions executives in Dublin before the warm-up match against Argentina, and he will travel to Australia next week to further press his nation’s claims of facing the touring side again, having previously done so in 1989. France have emerged as leading contenders to face the Lions in a warm-up match before the tour of New Zealand in 2029 and, according to Benazzi, could also fulfil the same role before the inaugural women’s tour in 2027, also to New Zealand. Continue reading...

Politics

56 h. ago Why the British and Irish Lions’ uncertain future could be bad news for Australia

With more regular games against France, Argentina and others mooted, this summer’s series feels vital for the Wallabies to prove their worth

Politics

3 d. ago Lions reject ‘Geography Six’ comparisons after more squad additions before Wallabies Test

Scotland’s Sutherland, Ashman and Graham called upLions squad on tour of Australia now features 44 playersThe British & Irish Lions have defended the decision to fly three extra Scottish players to Australia and insist it is not a rerun of the “Geography Six” saga that generated controversy in New Zealand in 2017.Rory Sutherland, Darcy Graham and Ewan Ashman have been called up to provide cover for the Lions’ final midweek game next Tuesday in between the first and second Tests. The trio’s arrival will inflate the number of Lions on tour to a whopping 44 with Owen Farrell, Ben White, Jamie Osborne and, most recently, Jamie George and Thomas Clarkson having already been added to the party. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Lions hopeful admits losing a stone in 12 days as 'getting off the toilet was an issue'

British and Irish Lions fullback Hugo Keenan endured a slow start to the tour of Australia with the Irishman's illness seeing him married to the toilet as he lost considerable weight

Politics

3 d. ago Lions call in three Scotland players overnight as Welsh hopefuls overlooked

The Lions have now called up a total of 44 players on tour, and only one Welshman remains as part of the squad

Sport

3 d. ago Andy Farrell calls up Scotland trio to British and Irish Lions squad as injury cover ahead of tour match

Farrell continues to call in reinforcements ahead of the series-opener against Australia on Saturday

Events

3 d. ago Lions squad continues to grow with three players added before first Wallabies Test

Scotland’s Sutherland, Ashman and Graham receive call upsBritish & Irish Lions now have 44 players on tour of AustraliaThe British & Irish Lions squad in Australia continues to grow in number with three extra Scotland players set to join the party. Rory Sutherland, Ewan Ashman and Darcy Graham have been called up to provide cover for next week’s First Nations & Pasifika XV fixture which will be played between the first and second Tests against the Wallabies.All three players are currently in New Zealand where they had been preparing to face Samoa but will now become the latest members of the Lions ever-expanding squad. The Lions management have already had to summon four injury replacements in Owen Farrell, Ben White, Jamie Osborne and Jamie George with prop Thomas Clarkson also added as cover over the weekend. Continue reading...

Sport

4 d. ago British and Irish Lions tour 2025: Results, fixtures, schedule and latest squad changes

Andy Farrell’s side maintain 100 per cent record in Australia ahead of First Test against the Wallabies

Politics

4 d. ago British and Irish Lions call up Jamie George for third tour after Luke Cowan

Concussion has also ruled out Garry Ringrose for the first Lions Test against Australia next week, leaving Andy Farrell to tinker with his squad before the trip to Brisbane

Politics

5 d. ago Owen Farrell makes first appearance on Lions tour as Huw Jones lights up victory

The Lions delivered their most emphatic win a week out from the first Test against the Wallabies.

Politics

6 d. ago ‘Lions is best thing I’ve ever done,’ says Ben Earl as Test wannabes search for elusive spark

Players are fired up as Wallabies loom but there are kinks to be ironed out in final warm-up against invitational XVThis time next week things will finally be getting real. The streets of Brisbane will be awash with red jerseys and, as Andy Farrell has been stressing from day one, the intensity of this Lions tour will soar to a whole new level. At which point it will all boil down to one essential question: are the Lions ready for what is coming over the horizon?As the players stretched and flexed in front of Adelaide Oval’s famous old scoreboard for their last fixture before the first Test, the answer is that no one can yet be entirely certain. The squad have spent the past fortnight frantically crisscrossing this great southern land like time-poor captains of industry and, deliberately or not, have revealed the best of themselves only fleetingly. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Lions call up Jamie Osborne with Blair Kinghorn to miss first Lions Test

Full-back’s injury may return later in seriesOwen Farrell on bench against invitational XVBlair Kinghorn is to miss the opening Test of the British & Irish Lions series against Australia but has not yet been ruled out of the entire tour. While scans have suggested Kinghorn’s knee ligament injury is not as serious as initially feared, the full-back is understood to be resigned to missing next week’s first Test in Brisbane and Ireland’s Jamie Osborne has been called up as cover.The 23-year-old Osborne will arrive in Australia on Saturday and is the third injury replacement to link up with the squad. Ben White and Owen Farrell have already filled the gaps left by Tomos Williams and Elliot Daly respectively but the Lions management are being cagey about the precise details of Kinghorn’s injury, which he suffered during the first quarter of the 36-24 win over the Brumbies in Canberra on Wednesday. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago Blair Kinghorn could feature in Lions tour despite knee injury

Kinghorn limped off in the 25th minute of Wednesday’s 36-24 victory over the ACT Brumbies.

Society

7 d. ago Owen Farrell to make British and Irish Lions tour debut against AUNZ Invitational XV

Lions set for stern challenge against strong opposition in Adelaide ahead of first Test showdown with Australia

Politics

7 d. ago Owen Farrell to make first appearance of Lions tour in final audition before Tests

The English fly half will feature off the bench in Adelaide as the Lions face an AUNZ Invitational XV

Politics

7 d. ago Owen Farrell to make Lions tour debut in last chance for players to stake Test claims

Farrell among replacements against invitational XVBeirne leads Lions against former Aus-NZ Test playersOwen Farrell will feature in his first game of the British & Irish Lions tour on Saturday after being picked on the bench against an invitational XV comprising players from Australia and New Zealand in what will be the touring team’s final game before next week’s first Test.The 33-year-old last played international rugby at the 2023 Rugby World Cup before stepping away from Test rugby to “prioritise his and his family’s mental wellbeing” but is now set to play his 19th game for the Lions across four tours. Continue reading...

Sport

8 d. ago Van der Flier caps win as Lions labour to patchy victory over ACT Brumbies

ACT Brumbies 24-36 British & Irish LionsInjury fears after Blair Kinghorn replaced early onWhen they reflect on their night’s work in Canberra the British & Irish Lions will once again have mixed emotions. At their best the touring team look sharp and dangerous but, with the Test series fast approaching, they are still not firing on all cylinders in some key areas. A first-half injury to full-back Blair Kinghorn has also come at a delicate moment ahead of the first Test in Brisbane on Saturday week.Fielding close to their best starting XV, the Lions finished up scoring five tries with Ollie Chessum, James Lowe and Marcus Smith crossing in the first and Garry Ringrose and Josh van der Flier following suit in the second. The in-form Finn Russell also contributed 11 points with the boot to cap another assured performance. Continue reading...

Politics