Jonny Wilkinson omitted as British and Irish Lions coaches pick dream players for 2025 Tour
03/29/2025 06:39 AM
In its 137-year history, the British and Irish Lions have produced a myriad of legendary players – but who is the greatest?
This is a question that triggers passionate wranglings throughout the rugby world.
And Andy Farrell and his coaching team for the 2025 Tour to Australia have joined in on the debate.
talkSPORT sat down with Farrell and his five assistant coaches, and asked them to each pick one special Lions player from past tours they would like to have in their squad for Australia this summer.
But to the surprise of talkSPORT.com readers, a host of big-hitters have been omitted, with no-one in the top ten for most points scored in Lions history being named.
With Jonny Wilkinson, Gavin Hastings, Stephen Jones and Leigh Halfpenny all overlooked, here’s who the coaches had to say…
Andy Farrell, Lions Head Coach (Ireland)
Player selected: Jason Leonard
Lions tours: 1993, 1997, 2001
Reasoning: "I'd pick Jason Leonard. He will be on the tour in some capacity, but not in a playing sense, more from a board point of view.
“The stories have been told time and time again, but he epitomises what it's like [to be a Lion].
"If you put the shirt on you have to buy into being the best teammate that you can possibly be.
“Jason epitomised giving himself to the cause, that's what is needed on a tour like this."
Richard Wigglesworth, Assistant Coach (England)
Player selected: Jason Robinson
Lions Tours: 2001, 2005
Reasoning: “I'll pick Jason Robinson. Unique.
“You have your career, and sometimes you are blessed to be in [your era] and it all fits.
“The physical person you are, how the defences were at that time, what the strategies were like.
"I think Jason is one of those guys who you could play 50 years ago, and in 50 years time you could drop him in a game and he would kill it."
Simon Easterby, Assistant Coach (Ireland)
Player selected: Brian O'Driscoll
Lions Tours: 2001, 2005, 2009, 2013
Reasoning: “I think Brian O'Driscoll, he lit up that first 2001 Test – him and Scott Quinnell were very good in that first game.
“I got to play with Scott in the early 2000s.
“So, Brian would be right up there in terms of his ability to play the game in the right way, he had unbelievable speed, footwork, and his style.
"He got taken out of the 2005 Tour early on in the first Test – I'm not saying it would have changed the series, but it had a massive impact, losing him especially after what he'd done in 2001."
Andrew Goodman, Assistant Coach (Ireland)
Player selected: Sean O'Brien
Lions Tours: 2013, 2017
Reasoning: "I had the honour of playing with Sean O'Brien, I know that he's great craic off the field.
"I recently saw a video from the last tour of New Zealand where he's flying out the side of the car as Superman.
“I think he's good value on and off the field, so I’ll go with Seany."
John Dalziel, Assistant Coach (Scotland)
Player selected: John Bentley
Lions Tours: 1997
Reasoning: "I think John Bentley would give it a good bit of comedy – he's someone I enjoyed playing alongside.
“Fantastic player on the field, and the heart and soul off it.
"I think that's what the Lions are about, that ability to have the best of both.
“Someone who can switch it on, on the field but be that good team person who can provide good humour off the field as well."
John Fogarty, Assistant Coach (Ireland)
Player selected: Willie John McBride
Lions Tours: 1962, 1966, 1968, 1971, 1974
Reasoning: "Willie John McBride. Legend, record number of tours, no fear whatsoever."
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