Lions squad unveiled with strong Scotland representation - but some sore omissions

Eight Scots have been named in the British & Irish Lions squad to tour Australia in the summer.

Andy Farrell unveiled his 38-man selection at a raucous event in front of 2000 supporters at the O2 in London.

There are four Glasgow Warriors players in the squad, including Sione Tuipulotu and Scott Cummings who both missed the Six Nations Championship through injury. They are joined by club-mates Zander Fagerson and Huw Jones.

Finn Russell was part of the Lions squad four years ago and will push for the No 10 shirt in Australia. | Getty Images

Two Edinburgh players - Duhan van der Merwe and Pierre Schoeman - are included along with Bath’s Finn Russell and Toulouse’ Blair Kinghorn.

Tuipulotu was in outstanding form for club and country before ripping a pectoral muscle in training with Glasgow in January. He has not played since but is on course to return this weekend or next.

“Everything has gone really well. I’ve been back in full training and feeling really good,” said Tuipulotu after his Lions selection was revealed. I’m out there hitting things! I’m hoping to play this week or next.”

Pierre Schoeman will be one of the props on the Lions tour. | Getty Images

Asked about getting the Lions call, he added: “I’m relieved, excited and everything you can imagine.”

Cummings made his comeback from a broken arm in Glasgow’s match against the Bulls last month.

The Scottish tally matches the eight who went on the last Lions tour, to South Africa in 2021. Fagerson, van der Merwe and Russell were all part of the squad four years ago. Russell was also part of the 2017 tour in Australia.

Some disappointed Scots

There was inevitably disappointment for some Scottish contenders, and Darcy Graham, Rory Darge and Jamie Ritchie were notable absentees when Lions tour manager Ieuan Evans read out the 38 names.

Unsurprisingly, Ireland supply the majority of the players, with Farrell selecting 15 (nine forwards and six backs) from the country he has coached with such distinction. There are 13 England players in the squad (eight forwards and five backs. The Scottish eight comprises three forwards and five backs; and Wales supply two, one forward and one back.

As expected, Maro Itoje has been named tour captain. He is the first English skipper of the British and Irish Lions since Martin Johnson in 2001. Itoje led England to second place in this year’s Six Nations in his maiden spell as starting skipper.

Pain for Doris

Caelan Doris had been the front-runner to be captain but injured his shoulder in Leinster’s Champions Cup semi-final loss to Northampton last weekend and surgery is likely to rule the Ireland No 8 out of the entire trip.

“It feels amazing to be named Lions captain,” said Itoje. “I’m deeply honoured, humbled and I will do my best to do the role justice. I am very much looking forward to the challenge ahead, it’s going to be a great Tour.

"I know the appetite amongst the players is extremely high, everyone is hungry to be a Lion and I can’t wait to play my role.”

The 2025 Lions have a 10-fixture itinerary that opens against Argentina in Dublin on June 20 and culminates in a three-Test series against the Wallabies. The first match on Australian soil is against Western Force in Perth on June 28. The Test matches are on July 19 and 26 and August 2, in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, respectively.

The Lions are seeking their first Test series victory since 2013 when they last toured Australia.

British and Irish Lions squad for tour of Australia

Backs: B Aki (Ireland), E Daly (England), T Freeman (England), J Gibson-Park (Ireland), M Hansen (Ireland), H Jones (Scotland), H Keenan (Ireland), B Kinghorn (Scotland), J Lowe (Ireland), A Mitchell (England), G Ringrose (Ireland), F Russell (Scotland), F Smith (England), M Smith (England), S Tuipulotu (Scotland), D van der Merwe (Scotland), T Williams (Wales).

Forwards: T Beirne (Ireland), O Chessum (England), J Conan (Ireland), L Cowan-Dickie (England), S Cummings (Scotland), T Curry (England), B Earl (England), Z Fagerson (Scotland), T Furlong (Ireland), E Genge (England), M Itoje (England, capt), R Kelleher (Ireland), J McCarthy (Ireland), J Morgan (Wales), H Pollock (England), A Porter (Ireland), J Ryan (Ireland), P Schoeman (Scotland), D Sheehan (Ireland), W Stuart (England), J Van der Flier (Ireland).