Dan Sheehan to lead British & Irish Lions against Western Force

Dan Sheehan and Henry Pollock were the two names that leapt off the teamsheet as British & Irish Lions coach Andy Farrell named his side to take on Western Force in their first match on Australian soil on Saturday.

Leinster and Ireland hooker Sheehan will captain the side, while Pollock, who has made just one appearance for England off the bench prior to his Lions call-up, starts at number eight.

Both men are known for their all-action running game – Sheehan has 15 tries in 32 appearances for Ireland including five in this year's Six Nations while Pollock scored a try on his international debut – and both are short odds to get on the scoresheet against the Force in Perth.

Farrell has brought in Sheehan's Leinster teammates Garry Ringrose, James Lowe, Joe McCarthy and Josh van der Flier, who were held back from Friday's match against Argentina, while fly-half Finn Russell will also start.

The Lions give up a handicap in the high 20s against the Force, the weakest of the Australian Super Rugby teams who finished third-bottom this season with four wins from 14 matches.

Six Wallaby internationals, including scrum-half Nic White who won a Premiership title with Exeter Chiefs in 2020, have been released to turn out for the Force, but seasoned Australia international Kurtley Beale, who faced the Lions in 2013 and was pencilled in to start at full-back, is ruled out through injury.

The Lions played the Force on that 2013 tour as well in their second game after opening with a big victory over the Barbarians in Hong Kong. The touring side were 39-point favourites that day and covered the line in a 69-17 victory featuring nine tries.

Sheehan is just 4-7 to score a try, the same price as winger and Ireland teammate James Lowe, while Mack Hansen on the other wing is also odds-on and Pollock is 6-5 with BoyleSports.

British & Irish Lions team vs Western Force

15 Elliot Daly; 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 James Lowe; 10 Finn Russell, 9 Tomos Williams; 1 Pierre Schoeman, 2 Dan Sheehan (c), 3 Tadhg Furlong, 4 Scott Cummings, 5 Joe McCarthy, 6 Tadhg Beirne, 7 Josh van der Flier,  8 Henry Pollock.

Replacements -  16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Andrew Porter, 18 Will Stuart, 19 Ollie Chessum, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Alex Mitchell, 22 Huw Jones, 23 Marcus Smith. 

British & Irish Lions vs Western Force betting odds

Odds correct at time of publication.

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2025 British & Irish Lions Tour schedule

The British & Irish Lions will play ten matches this summer and began their schedule with a 24-28 defeat to Argentina at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

The 38-man squad flew to Perth following their loss to the Pumas ahead of their three-Test series against Australia, which begins at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium on Saturday, July 19.

Here is the full itinerary:

2025 British & Irish Lions squad in full

Forwards: Tadhg Beirne, Ollie Chessum, Jack Conan, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Scott Cummings, Tom Curry, Ben Earl, Finlay Bealham, Tadhg Furlong, Ellis Genge, Maro Itoje, Ronan Kelleher, Joe McCarthy, Jac Morgan, Henry Pollock, Andrew Porter, James Ryan, Pierre Schoeman, Dan Sheehan, Will Stuart, Josh van der Flier.

Backs: Bundee Aki, Elliot Daly, Tommy Freeman, Jamison Gibson-Park, Mack Hansen, Huw Jones, Hugo Keenan, Blair Kinghorn, James Lowe, Alex Mitchell, Garry Ringrose, Finn Russell, Fin Smith, Marcus Smith, Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe, Tomos Williams.

Read Jack Ogalbe's thoughts on the Lions squad

Where can I watch the 2025 Lions tour?

The 2025 British & Irish Lions Tour to Australia will again be shown live on Sky Sports.

What is the betting for the 2025 Lions Tour?

Here are the latest odds for the British & Irish Lions' three-match Test series against Australia's Wallabies.

Odds correct at 11am on Thursday, June 26. Subject to change.

Who is the captain of the Lions?

England forward Maro Itoje was named as the captain of the British & Irish Lions at May's squad announcement at the O2 in London. He is the first English captain of the Lions since Martin Johnson led them on the 2001 tour down under and only the third in 89 years.

Who is the Lions' head coach?

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell was appointed as leader of the British & Irish Lions in 2024. Farrell, who enjoyed a stellar career in rugby league with Wigan, is currently head coach of Ireland, whom he has guided to two Six Nations titles. 

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