British and Irish Lions tour 2025: Andy Farrell’s selection options assessed after Autumn Nations Series | Rugby Union News

Ireland brought the curtain down on the Autumn Nations series with a 22-19 win over Australia in Dublin on Saturday.

It marked Andy Farrell’s final game as Ireland manager before he steps down to begin preparations for next year’s British and Irish Lions tour of Australia.

With Farrell stepping down from his Ireland duties, the 2025 Six Nations is his last chance to explore all four nations as he tries to narrow down a range of options to a 37-man squad that could end the Lions’ 12-year wait : for the round win.

Meanwhile, Farrell will sift through the performances and weigh his options after the Fall Nations multi-series, which, even at this early stage, could go as far as securing a spot on the plane for some.

Here we assess the hopefuls from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland who are vying for the coveted opportunity to represent the Lions Down Under…

Ireland. Pharrell to lean on familiar faces?

After winning two Triple Crowns in 2022 and 2023, a Six Nations Grand Slam in 2023 and a back-to-back Six Nations title in 2024, it seems fitting to start with Ireland given Farrell’s experience as a head coach.

After all, with Ireland at the top of the world rugby rankings between July 2022 and October 2023, it is this record that has seen Farrell emerge as Warren Gatland’s successor as Lions head coach for the upcoming tour of Australia.

Irish hopefuls abound, and a large contingent is expected to form the core of the squad.Not only have they had a close working relationship with Farrell, but they will play a crucial role in helping the fledgling group adapt to his methods.

Ireland have not only potential tourists, but also Test match starters in World Player of the Year contender Caelan Dorris, scrum-half Jamieson Gibson-Park, centers Bundy Aki, Gary Ringrose and Robbie Henshaw, wings James Lowe and Mack Hensen, and Fullback Hugo Keenan.

Expect the Lions’ forwards to field a heavy Irish contingent as well, with back-rows Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan, Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong, studs Dan Sheehan and Ronan Kelleher, and locks Tadhg Beirne, James Ryan, Joe McCarthy and Ryan Baird in contention of choice for

Ireland Lions hopefuls

AttackersAndrew Porter, Tadhg Furlong, Dan Sheehan, Ronan Kelleher, Tadhg Beirne, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan, Ryan Bird, Josh van der Flier, Keilan Dorris, Jack Conan; BacksJamieson Gibson-Park, Jack Crowley, Sam Prendergast, Bundy Aki, Gary Ringrose, Mack Hensen, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe, Hugo Keenan.

Will Scotland shape the Lions’ back line?

There is just as much evidence to suggest that the Scottish contingent in Farrell’s first Lions squad will be as strong as Ireland’s.

After ending their Autumn Nations Series campaign with a 27-13 win over Australia, Scotland showed how to beat the Lions’ next hosts, who are also high in the world rankings, and England.

In Finn Russell, captain Sione Tiupulotu, Hugh Jones, Darcy Graham, Duhan van der Merwe and Blair Kinghorn, Scotland not only have talent at the back, but continuity in key areas that could be key for Farrell in his decision.

With Russell the leading option in midfield, deploying Scotland’s burgeoning central partnership alongside Tupulotu and Jones looks an attractive option, as does the selection of versatile Toulouse full-back Kinghorn.

Van der Merwe and Graham have been in contention for Scotland’s all-time try record all autumn and the wingers are in another contention for a place on the plane to Australia, with a place for both in Farrell’s squad unlikely.

Up front, props Pierre Schomann and Xander Fagerson have further expanded their options, while Matt Fagerson and Rory Darge are in the mix for a highly competitive field of back-row options.

Scotland Lions contenders

AttackersPierre Schoeman, Zander Fagerson, Rory Darge, Matt Fagerson; BacksBen White, Finn Russell, Sione Tuipulotu, Huw Jones, Darcy Graham, Duhan van der Merwe, Blair Kinghorn.

Smith’s Leading English Elective Fee

After a superb autumn in which he underlined his world-class credentials, the big question surrounding England’s Marcus Smith is not whether he will travel to Australia, but whether Farrell trusts him to take the No 10 jersey over Scotland’s Russell.

Emmanuel Faye-Waboso’s unbroken start to international rugby has delivered electricity and tries out wide, and is an effective threat at the breakdown. If he maintains or improves on that in his second Six Nations campaign, he will also be an option Pharrell can’t ignore.

Chandler Cunningham-South flashed his combative, ball-carrying abilities throughout the fall, as did Ben Earl to a lesser extent, both now attractive options for Farrell as he looks to put his own brand of rugby on this latest incarnation of the Lions.

Scrum-half Alex Mitchell improved his chances for Lions selection despite missing the autumn through injury as performances from Ben Spencer and Jack van Poortvliet did not do enough to see him removed as England’s best No.9.

The Lions may not be particularly blessed compared to other positions, but that shouldn’t detract from Ellis Genge’s suitability.

Maro Itoye, once tipped as the potential next Lions captain, leads England’s second-row line-up alongside bruisers Ollie Chesum and George Martin.

England captain and two-time Lion Jamie George may find the competition on the course too great to win another place on tour, with Henry Slade and Ollie Lawrence at center back and George Furbank and Tommy Freeman at fullback.

England’s Lions hopes

AttackersEllis Genge, Jamie George, Will Stewart, Maro Itoje, Ollie Chessum, George Martin, Chandler Cunningham-South, Ben Earl, Sam Underhill, Jack Willis, Tom Curry; BacksAlex Mitchell, Marcus Smith, Ollie Lawrence, Henry Slade, Emmanuel Fay-Waboso, George Furbank, Tommy Freeman.

Welsh influence is waning

How times have changed since the last British and Irish Lions tour of Australia in 2013.

With Wales boss Gatland at the helm, 16 Welsh players traveled Down Under with plenty of instrumental gifts as the Lions won 2-1.

Eight started the first Test in Brisbane, seven started the second in Melbourne and 10 were on the field to start the crucial third Test in Sydney, synonymous with the stunning try of Wales wing George North.

Eleven years on, however, amid a 12-Test run in which Wales have gone an entire calendar year without a win for the first time since 1937, few Welshmen can be sure of the selection.

These are tough times to be a Welsh rugby player, made even tougher by the added dimension of playing yourself up against the Lions. But they say pressure makes diamonds, and the quality of a few has shone through in these testing times.

Dewey Lake’s leadership in the face of adversity has seen him make a credible case for a starting position on the Lions side, while Jack Morgan’s combative performances in the autumn have put him in the conversation for a competitive back row.

The upcoming Six Nations gives number eight Aaron Wainwright, Tomos Williams and winger James Botham another opportunity to boost their overseas inclusion, but with stiff competition in their respective positions, Wales’ representation could be at an all-time low.

Welsh Lions hopes

AttackersDewey Lake, Jac Morgan, James Botham, Aaron Wainwright; BacksThomas Williams.

British & Irish Lions Tour Australia on Sky Sports

Sky Sports will exclusively show the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour of Australia, with all three Tests against the Wallabies and six warm-up matches being shown exclusively live.