Sam Warburton Leaves Fans Stunned After Picking Two Welshmen in His Lions XV
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Sam Warburton, who led the Lions to a memorable series win in Australia back in 2013, has unveiled his latest selection featuring a balanced mix of five Englishmen, five Irishmen, three Scots, and two Welshmen.
In a shake-up from his round one picks during the 2025 Six Nations, Warburton has made eight changes to his squad as he fine-tunes his side for the upcoming tour Down Under.
FRONT-ROW
- 1. Ellis Genge (England)
- 2. Dan Sheehan (Ireland)
- 3. Tadhg Furlong (Ireland)
Tadhg Furlong might have missed the first four games of Ireland’s Six Nations campaign due to hamstring and calf issues, but Sam Warburton isn't concerned. The former Wales captain believes the Leinster prop still has plenty of “credit in the bank.”
"There's a lot of rugby to be played between now and the tour," Warburton explained. "If Furlong gets five games for Leinster and three more on the tour, he rolls into a Test series with eight games under his belt.
"If he gets fit, I think his ceiling is higher than any other tighthead."
Warburton is backing Furlong to rediscover his best form and anchor the Lions scrum once again.
SECOND-ROW
- 4. Maro Itoje (England)
- 5. George Martin (England)
Despite missing England's last three matches with a knee injury, George Martin gets the nod from Sam Warburton to start in the second row. The Leicester Tigers powerhouse replaces veteran Irishman Tadhg Beirne and lines up alongside Warburton's choice for captain, Maro Itoje.
"I've gone with Martin because I think physicality wins up front, and he brings that grunt," said Warburton.
"He got injured against France [in round two], but I think he's the best enforcer on the home isles."
Warburton clearly values Martin's ability to add bite to the pack, believing his aggressive edge is exactly what's needed in the heat of a Test series.
BACK-ROW
- 6. Tom Curry (England)
- 7. Jac Morgan (Wales)
- 8. Caelan Doris (Ireland)
WIN A TRIP TO THE 2025 LIONS:
HE PACKAGE INCLUDES
- 2 x Return flight tickets from the UK to Australia
- 2 x Tickets to watch the 2nd Test in Melbourne
- 2 x Tickets to watch the 3rd Test in Sydney
- 4 x Night's accommodation in Melbourne with bed & breakfast (24-27 July)
- 7 x Night's accommodation in Sydney with bed & breakfast (28 July-3 Aug)
- 2 x Flight tickets Melbourne to Sydney including airport hotel group transfers
- 2 x Tickets to watch a private function with Lions legends
- Additional events to be announced
The winner will be part of the Lions supporters group with tour representatives on hand to oversee everything.
HALFBACKS
- 9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland)
- 10. Finn Russell (Scotland)
CENTRES
- 12. Sione Tuipulotu (Scotland)
- 13. Huw Jones (Scotland)
Sam Warburton believes that a fit-again Sione Tuipulotu could be the catalyst for Finn Russell's success on the Lions tour.
"Russell has been exceptional for Bath, and they've probably been the most physical team in the Premiership this season," said Warburton.
"It's his third tour, so he's vastly experienced to hold the reins at 10. If you put him outside Gibson-Park and with Tuipulotu on his shoulder, playing behind that pack, it will enhance him even more.
"He's the most naturally gifted 10 we have, and he could go to another level again."
BACK-THREE
- 11. James Lowe (Ireland)
- 14. Tommy Freeman (England)
- 15. Blair Murray (Wales)
Tommy Freeman earns his spot on the wing after a sensational Six Nations campaign, where he became the first England player to score a try in every game of the tournament. Meanwhile, Sam Warburton has sprung a surprise at full-back, opting for Wales' Blair Murray as his "curveball" selection.
The New Zealand-born Welshman gets the nod ahead of Blair Kinghorn, who topped the charts with nine line breaks, 575 metres gained, and 13 offloads.
"Before the tournament, I was asked who the best newcomer would be, and I said Blair Murray," Warburton admitted.
"He didn't get picked in the first game, so that didn't go too well, but he comes from a great pedigree with the Canterbury Crusaders.
"He's an exceptional athlete, has counter-attack ability, is good under the high ball, and brave in defence. It's a toss-up between him and Blair Kinghorn, who has been excellent and improved as the tournament went on."
EDITORS PICKS:
- Premiership Rugby Set to Bring Away Ends for Fans
- England 'replacing Umbro' for New Kit Deal – Fans Fuming
- BBC will no longer broadcast England rugby games
- Wareen Gatland selects FOUR English players in his British & Irish Lions XV
2025 British & Irish Lions Squad: Bookies' Predictions for the Tour
With the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia fast approaching, the bookmakers have released their early odds on who will make the squad.
While a lot can change between now and the final selection, these odds give a strong indication of who the bookies believe will be donning the famous red jersey next summer.
The bolded players in our proposed Lions squad represent the starting XV, according to current odds.
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
- Blair Kinghorn (Scotland) – 8/11
- Darcy Graham (Scotland) – 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)
- Fin Russell (Scotland) – 1/10
- Fin Smith (England) – 8/15
- Sam Prendergast (Ireland) – 8/11
CONTINUES ON PAGE TWO
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