3 h. ago Maro Itoje expected to be named Lions captain as Andy Farrell prepares to reveal squad

England skipper poised to lead the British and Irish Lions on their 10-match tour of Australia this summer

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8 h. ago Maro Itoje to be named British & Irish Lions captain for Australia tour

Itoje to be first English Lions captain in 24 years40-strong squad to be announced at O2 on ThursdayMaro Itoje will be named captain of the British & Irish Lions squad to tour Australia on Thursday, the Guardian understands. Itoje is set to become the first Englishman to lead the Lions in 24 years when he is unveiled as part of Andy Farrell’s squad announcement at a live event at the O2.Itoje, the England captain, became the overwhelming favourite for the role when it emerged Caelan Doris had suffered a shoulder injury last weekend that required surgery. The Ireland captain is a doubt for the tour of Australia, clearing the way for Itoje to be selected as captain and lead what is understood to be a 40-strong squad. Continue reading...

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12 h. ago Maro Itoje set for Lions captaincy with squad named on Thursday

Itoje became the frontrunner for the role after leading England with distinction during the Six Nations.

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14 h. ago Who is Henry Pollock? How England’s young sensation bolted into Lions contention

The 20-year-old flanker is uber-confident and uber-athletic - and has made a compelling case for British and Irish Lions selection

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15 h. ago The pivotal British and Irish Lions pick that will set the tone for Australia tour

Farrell must make a number of difficult decisions before divulging his squad on Thursday as one of the sport’s great brands prepares to tackle the Wallabies this summer

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15 h. ago Exciting young stars to old stagers – 6 possible British and Irish Lions bolters

Andy Farrell’s squad head to Australia this summer.

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16 h. ago The Owen Farrell decision that could define the British and Irish Lions squad

Farrell must make a number of difficult decisions before divulging his squad on Thursday as one of the sport’s great brands prepares to tackle the Wallabies this summer

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17 h. ago When is the British & Irish Lions squad announced? How to watch online and for free

Rugby fans are eagerly awaiting Andy Farrell's British and Irish Lions squad announcement on Thursday afternoon as players hope for a coveted spot on the plane to Australia for this summer's tour

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17 h. ago British & Irish Lions squad announcement: Date, time, TV channel, live stream, how to watch for free

How to watch the Lions squad announcement on Thursday

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19 h. ago When is the British and Irish Lions squad announced? How to watch on TV and online

Andy Farrell announces his squad for the Lions tour to Australia this week

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33 h. ago When is the Lions squad announced? Date, time, how to watch and fixtures for Australia tour

British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell will confirm his travelling party during a special event held in front of more than 2,000 fans at the O2 Arena

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42 h. ago The Breakdown | Andy Farrell faces Owen question as selection debates pile up for Lions squad

Head coach must decide if his son commands a place, the back-row blend and whether a left-field pick is required As Andy Farrell prepares to name his British & Irish Lions touring squad it is worth reflecting on the events of 12 years ago. Then as now, the destination was Australia and Farrell was an important cog in Warren Gatland’s management team. It was also the last time the Lions actually won a series, the solitary occasion they have ticked that illustrious box this century.And do you remember who, ultimately, made the difference in the all-important final Test in Sydney, with the best-of-three series poised at 1-1? None other than the strong-scrummaging Alex Corbisiero, who had been omitted from the original squad and owed his presence to an ankle injury sustained by Ireland’s Cian Healy early in the tour. Continue reading...

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60 h. ago Five key questions for Andy Farrell ahead of British and Irish Lions squad announcement

The Lions boss is preparing to unveil his touring party to take on the Wallabies in Australia

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61 h. ago Caelan Doris set for operation on shoulder in major British and Irish Lions injury scare

The Ireland No 8 is one of two leading contenders to be named captain of the touring party

Events

62 h. ago Caelan Doris requires shoulder 'procedure' in major injury scare ahead of British and Irish Lions tour

Doris was one of the big favourites to be named as captain by Andy Farrell

Events

65 h. ago British & Irish Lions 2025: Predicting the squad to tour Australia

The final international action before the squad is named is over - who will Andy Farrell be picking to head Down Under?

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3 d. ago Northampton give Andy Farrell much to ponder before Lions unveiling

Henry Pollock impresses but can the British & Irish Lions head coach afford to leave him out the squad on ThursdayOne of the all-time great club knockout results could yet have big implications in the coming days. Northampton will now feel they have a genuine chance of lifting the Champions Cup for the first time in quarter of a century while Andy Farrell suddenly has much to ponder before Thursday’s British & Irish Lions squad announcement in London.Just as the Saints fully deserve to be contesting this month’s final against French challengers Bordeaux-Beglès so the prospects of several of their players have been significantly enhanced. It is now less a question, for example, of whether Henry Pollock and Fin Smith could make the plane and more whether Farrell can afford to leave them behind. Continue reading...

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4 d. ago Henry Pollock revels in ‘special win’ over Leinster in hardest game of his life

Saints beat Irish province to make Champions Cup finalPhil Dowson says his players enhanced Lions prospectsNorthampton hope their extraordinary semi-final win over Leinster will be a springboard to further personal and collective success in the coming weeks. The Saints director of rugby, Phil Dowson, also believes several of his players have “undoubtably” enhanced their British & Irish Lions selection chances before Thursday’s tour squad announcement.Henry Pollock and Fin Smith, along with hat-trick try-scorer Tommy Freeman, could not have made a better impression on a high-pressure stage and Dowson believes Pollock’s exuberance is beneficial to any team. “It’s infectious and spreads throughout the team,” said Dowson. “Leinster are one of the best sides in Europe and the world. For our players to perform on that stage and execute under that pressure speaks volumes for them.” Continue reading...

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5 d. ago They shouted 'Up Hamas' on stage, called for Tory MPs to be killed and championed the IRA

The band has been accused of using IRA paraphernalia to make violent republicanism appear cool to a generation lucky enough to be born after the horrific slaughter of the Troubles.

Events

6 d. ago Northampton’s Fin Smith eager to seize final chance to show Lions credentials

The England fly-high will go head to head with Leinster rival Sam Prendergast in Saturday’s Champions Cup semi-final.

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