As it happened: Andy Farrell includes 15 Ireland players in his Lions squad for 2025 Australia tour

Lions head coach Andy Farrell unveiled his playing squad in London today. 

Maro Itoje is announced as Captain of the British and Irish Lions alongside Andy Farrell. Pic: David Rogers/Getty Images

3pm: That's it. Your 2025 British and Irish Lions squad to take on Australia this summer has been named. Joe Schmidt and the Wallabies await. 

2.57pm: Mack Hansen is on the line, however, it was meant to be his Connacht and Ireland teammate Bundee Aki, but he is "minding the kids", Hansen notes.

Whilst heading for a swim at home in Galway, Hansen, in typical fashion, joked: "I'm lost for words, which is good for Faz to hear."

🗣️ "Bundee was meant to do it but he's minding the kids"

Mack Hansen was "lost for words" after his British and Irish Lions inclusion 🤣 pic.twitter.com/HVtIQPo2Mf

— Sky Sports (@SkySports) May 8, 2025

2.45pm: Farrell's take on his squad selection: "Since we met as a coaching unit for the very first time six weeks ago we have been discussing more than 75 players of interest.

"But the key job is getting that squad balance right as we prepare for a long and demanding tour that finishes with a three-Test series against the Wallabies.

Mack Hansen is announced by Board Chairman Ieuan Evans, right. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile

"I am very excited about working with this group and believe they have the capacity to achieve something special and add to the Lions' legacy."

2.43pm: 15 from Ireland, 13 from England, eight from Scotland and two from Wales. 12 Leinster, two Connacht and one Munster.

2.40pm: No Irish out-half - other than coach Johnny Sexton that is. Jack Crowley and Sam Prendergast miss out.

2.35pm: And now the backs (17). Previous toursit Robbie Henshaw misses out.

Bundee Aki (Ireland/Connacht), Elliot Daly (England/Saracens), Tommy Freeman (England/Northampton), Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland/Leinster), Mack Hansen (Ireland/Connacht), Huw Jones (Scotland/Glasgow), Hugo Keenan (Ireland/Leinster), Blair Kinghorn (Scotland/Toulouse), James Lowe (Ireland/Leinster), Alex Mitchell (England/Northampton), Garry Ringrose (Ireland/Leinster), Finn Russell (Scotland/Bath), Fin Smith (England/Northampton), Marcus Smith (England/Harlequins), Sione Tuipulotu (Scotland/Glasgow), Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland/Edinburgh), Tomos Williams (Wales/Gloucester).

2.33pm: No place for the injured Caelan Doris. 

Leinster and Ireland's Caelan Doris misses out through injury. Pic: Billy Stickland/Inpho

2.32pm: It'll be the forwards first (21).

Tadhg Beirne (Ireland/Munster), Ollie Chessum (England/Leicester), Jack Conan (Ireland/Leinster), Luke Cowan-Dickie (England/Sale), Scott Cummings (Scotland/Glasgow), Tom Curry (England/Sale), Ben Earl (England/Saracens), Zander Fagerson (Scotland/Glasgow), Tadhg Furlong (Ireland/Leinster), Ellis Genge (England/Bristol), Maro Itoje (England/Saracens, captain), Rónan Kelleher (Ireland/Leinster), Joe McCarthy (Ireland/Leinster), Jac Morgan (Wales/Ospreys), Henry Pollock (England/Northampton), Andrew Porter (Ireland/Leinster), James Ryan (Ireland/Leinster), Pierre Schoeman (Scotland/Edinburgh), Dan Sheehan (Ireland/Leinster), Will Stuart (England/Bath).

2.20pm: Itoje is the first English captain since Martin Johnson back in 2001.

2.16pm: As expected, Saracens and England second-row Maro Itoje will captain the Lions in Australia.

Farrell said: “I want to congratulate Maro on being named captain of The British and Irish Lions.

“This is a great honour for Maro, his family and everyone who has supported him throughout his career from Saracens to England - and on to The Lions in 2017 and 2021.

“As a two-time tourist, Maro fully understands what The Lions is all about and also the role of the captain in helping the group achieve its goal of winning a Test Series this summer.” 

British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell during the Squad and Captain announcement for the 2025 Tour of Australia at Indigo at The O2 in London. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile

Itoje added: “It feels amazing to be named Lions captain.

"I’m deeply honoured, humbled and I will do my best to do the role justice. I am very much looking forward to the challenge ahead, it’s going to be a great Tour.

"I know the appetite amongst the players is extremely high, everyone is hungry to be a Lion and I can’t wait to play my role.”

2.13pm: Former Lions skipper Alun Wyn Jones is on stage for the captaincy announcement.

2.10pm: Farrell on what is that makes a Lions captain: "He’s the beacon, isn't he? The person everyone looks up to, not only because he is outstanding at his profession but for how he makes others feel…"

2.05pm: Farrell and Evans have joined MCs for the day, Ugo Monye and Lee McKenzie on stage.

Farrell is far from fazed: “I’m actually feeling great, very chilled because my work is done.”

British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell (third left) poses with his assistants Richard Wigglesworth, Simon Easterby, John Dalziel, Andrew Goodman and John Fogarty (left to right). Johnny Sexton is also part of Farrell's coaching ticket.

He added: "It's unbelievably special because it's four nations coming together, united. The sea of red comes in to a city and takes over."

1.55pm: Lions fixtures: Argentina (Dublin, June 20); Western Force (Perth, June 28); Queensland Reds (Brisbane, July 2); NSW Waratahs (Sydney, July 5); ACT Brumbies (Canberra, July 9); Aus/NZ invitational XV (Adelaide, July 12); Australia (First Test, Brisbane, July 19); First Nations/Pasifika XV (Melbourne, July 22); Australia (Second Test, Melbourne, July 26); Australia (Third Test, Sydney, August 2).

1.45pm: The time has arrived. British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell unveils his playing squad today. 

Who makes the plane to Australia for the three-test tour against Joe Schmidt's Wallabies? We'll find out in 15 minutes as Lions chairman Ieuan Evans, along with Farrell, announce the squad in front of 2,000 fans gathered at London's O2.

Maro Itoje is set to captain the touring side as Caelan Doris looks likely to miss out with the shoulder injury he sustained in Leinster's Champions Cup semi-final defeat to Northampton Saints last weekend.