Andy Farrell set to select son Owen Farrell for the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour
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With Andy Farrell set to finalize his squad for the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour, the challenge of narrowing down his options looms large. But bookmakers are already backing their top picks for the journey to Australia next summer.
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Curious to see how the squad might shape up? We’ve delved into the odds from April 19, 2024, to create a snapshot of the most likely contenders for the prestigious Lions jersey.
Nine-Match Tour Down Under
The Lions are gearing up for a nine-match adventure in 2025, including an intriguing face-off with a New Zealand and Australia invitational XV. The historic fixture in Adelaide will be followed by a trio of electrifying Tests against the Wallabies in Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney.
And if the 100,000-capacity Melbourne Cricket Ground sells out, it would set a new attendance record for a Lions Test. The series finale promises a thrilling showdown at Sydney’s Olympic Park, drawing over 80,000 roaring fans.
Courtney Lawes Eyes a Spot
COURTNEY LAWES: “It's no secret—I'd love to be part of another Lions tour. Unlike international rugby, which keeps me away for months at a time, the Lions is two months, and I can bring my family along. I’m not expecting it, but if the opportunity comes, I’ll be there.”
Owen Farrell Eligible for Selection
Despite his move to France making him ineligible for England duty, Owen Farrell remains a top contender for the Lions. Now 33 and plying his trade with Racing 92, Farrell could still receive a call-up next summer.
“It’s a massive honor for any British player, but it's still far off,” said Farrell, a veteran of three previous Lions tours. “Right now, I’m focused on settling in and performing well here at Racing.”
Under the guidance of head coach Andy Farrell—Owen’s father—the Lions have a precedent of selecting players based overseas, so Farrell's dream of a fourth tour could very well be alive.
2025 BRITISH & IRISH LIONS SQUAD (36)
BACK-THREE (6)
- Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland) – 1/16
- James Lowe (Ireland) – 1/8
- Hugo Keenan (Ireland) – 1/5
- Tommy Freeman (England) – 4/9
- Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (England) – 8/11
- Mack Hansen (Ireland) – 2/1
CENTRE (4)
- Bundee Aki (Ireland) – 1/5
- Ollie Lawrence (England) – 1/4
- Sione Tuipulotu (Scotland) – 2/7
- Robbie Henshaw (Ireland) – 8/11
FLY-HALVES (3)
- Marus Smith (England) – 1/10
- Owen Farrell (England) – 8/15
- Finn Russell (Scotland) – 8/11
SCRUM-HALVES (3)
- Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland) – 8/11
- Alex Mitchell (England) – 11/10
- Ben White (Scotland) – 11/10
PROP (3)
- Tadhg Furlong (Ireland) – 1/8
- Andrew Porter (Ireland) – 1/7
- Zander Fagerson (Scotland) – 4/11
- Ellis Genge (England) – 4/6
- Joe Marler (England) – 5/6
- Pierre Schoeman (Scotland) – 5/4
HOOKER (3)
- Dan Sheehan (Ireland) – 1/10
- Jamie George (England) – 8/15
- Elliot Dee (Wales) – 6/5
LOCK (5)
- Maro Itoje (England) – 1/33
- Tadhg Beirne (Ireland) – 1/10
- Joe McCarthy (Ireland) – 4/6
- Ollie Chessum (England) – 8/11
- George Martin (England) – 11/10
BACK-ROW (6)
- Caelan Doris (Ireland) – 1/5
- Ben Earl (England) – 1/5
- Josh van der Flier (Ireland) – 1/3
- Courtney Lawes (England) – 8/15
- Tommy Reffell (Wales) – 4/6
- Rory Darge (Scotland) – 6/4
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