Maro Itoje was to be appointed captain of the British and Irish lions when Squad is announced on Thursday | Rugby Union News
Maro Itoje should be appointed first English captain of the British and Irish lions since 2001, when the team was announced on Thursday.
Itoje put his complaint for the role after having guided England towards a finish in the six nations and became a favorite after the Irish rival Caelan Doris needed a shoulder operation.
Head coach Andy Farrell will unveil a team between 37 and 40 players during an event at lunchtime in Indigo at O2 in London before the 10 binding tour which opens against Argentina in Dublin on June 20, live Sky Sports.
Owen Farrell and Henry Pollock are two names that caused a lot of debate before the confirmation of the tour.
Farrell, who endured a first season affected by injuries to Racing 92, has not appeared for England since the 2023 World Cup, but brings a high -level experience as a triple tourist of Lions.
But Farrell faces a lot of competition for a role of playmaker, with Finn Russell, end Smith, Sam Prendergast, Marcus Smith, Jack Crowley and George Ford all rushing for seats on the plane for Australia.
Pollock, the 20 -year -old England flanker, turned out to be against his selection of rivals for lions with an impressive performance in the victory of the Northampton Champions Cup over Leinster on Saturday.
Andy Farrell suggested that he would consider players with French clubs, who opens the door to Blair Kinghorn in Toulouse and Jack Willis, with his son Owen.
A low -chances of Doris should steal the lions of their test No. 8, but also raises the prospect of Taulupe Faletau who embarks on his fourth tour.
Courtney Lawes and Manu Tuilagi are also possibilities to make a team that should mainly be made up of players from Ireland and England, Scotland contributing to a healthy contingent and Wales also providing two or three.
Visit of the British and Irish Lions in Australia on Sky Sports
Sky Sports will exclusively show the tour of the British and Irish lions in 2025 in Australia, with the three tests against the Wallabies and six warm -up matches to show exclusively live.
