Maro Itoje 2-5 to lead British & Irish Lions to success in Australia

Maro Itoje is 2-5 to lead the British & Irish Lions to a Test series win over Australia after he was confirmed as captain for this summer's tour on Thursday.

Itoje is set to become 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.

The 30-year-old is part of a 38-man squad selected by head coach Andy Farrell but there was no room for injured Ireland skipper Caelan Doris, who was seen as Itoje's biggest rival for the Lions captaincy. 

Ireland are the most represented nation in Farrell's squad with 15 players, followed by 13 England internationals, eight from Scotland and just two Wales players – Jac Morgan and Tomos Williams.

There is no room for Farrell's son, Owen, who plays for French side Racing 92 and is a veteran of three Lions tours, while Irish fly-half Sam Prendergast is also omitted. Scot Finn Russell is expected to start in the number ten role in Australia with English duo Fin and Marcus Smith as his understudies.

Read Jack Ogalbe's thoughts on the Lions' squad announcement

Fin Smith is one of four Northampton Saints selected alongside scrum-half Alex Mitchell, winger Tommy Freeman and 20-year-old Henry Pollock, who is the youngest member of the touring party and the least experienced with just a single international appearance.

Back-rower Pollock has enjoyed a rapid rise after making his Premiership debut for Northampton in November 2023 and his selection, following some exceptional performances for his club, received one of the biggest cheers at the squad announcement at London's O2 Arena.

The Lions have won only one of their six tours this millennium but bookmakers are confident that they can replicate the only success in that time, against Australia 12 years ago, this summer.

Bet365 make the Lions just 5-4 to complete a 3-0 Test whitewash over the Wallabies, who are 2-1 outsiders to win the three-match series which begins in Brisbane on July 19.

Farrell's side will play six times before the first Test at the Suncorp Stadium, starting with a warm-up clash with Argentina at Dublin's Aviva Stadium on June 20.

2025 British & Irish Lions squad in full

Forwards: Tadhg Beirne, Ollie Chessum, Jack Conan, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Scott Cummings, Tom Curry, Ben Earl, Zander Fagerson, 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.

2025 British & Irish Lions Tour schedule

The British & Irish Lions will play ten matches this summer, beginning with a warm-up match against Argentina at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Friday, June 20. 

The 38-man squad will then fly to Australia, where they will play a further nine matches including a three-Test series against the Wallabies, which begins at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium on Saturday, July 19.

Here is the full itinerary:

Where can I watch the 2025 Lions tour?

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

June's warm-up fixture against Argentina will be shown on Sky and also on terrestrial television, with details of which channel to be confirmed in due course.

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 and time of publication and subject to change.

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