These days, Test rugby squad announcements follow a standard pattern: players are informed via a phone call or email, and within 24 hours, the world finds out via media releases and news outlets.
When it comes to the British and Irish Lions squad naming, however, things are done differently.
After four years of increasingly fevered speculation in the four nations that comprise the Lions – England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales – the squad is revealed with a mix of old-school methodology, and a flourish of showbiz that reflects the extraordinary interest in who makes the cut – and who doesn’t.
Both will be seen on Thursday night (11pm AEST) when the much-anticipated Lions touring squad is named for the tour of Australia in June and July.
Lions head coach Andy Farrell.Credit: Getty Images
It is expected 40,000 supporters will travel to Australia and some tragic fans have even been paying up to $135 for a ticket to attend a 2000-seat event at the O2 Arena in London, at which Lions chairman and former Welsh international Ieuan Evans will read out the 37 names.
Most will be watching the team naming live on TV, including all the nervous players in contention.
There are no pre-announcement phone calls with good news or bad. In a throwback to days when squads were sent to a newswire to be announced on radio or in the morning newspaper, players only find out they are a Lion when their name is read out on TV. Or not.
Secrecy is also notoriously tight, so selection leaks are rare.
Former Wallabies captain James Horwill, who skippered Australia against the Lions in 2013, was playing for Harlequins in London when the 2017 squad was named.
“So we were all sitting there in the team room watching the TV with the guys who are hoping to make it, or being talked about as possibilities,” Horwill said.
“We had lots of England guys, and they were doing well at that stage. And Jamie Roberts as well. But he didn’t get selected, and a few others didn’t as well. It’s pretty brutal. You’re just there as a teammate and giving congratulations to some guys, and being there to support others.”
Australian fans can watch on the Lions’ YouTube channel from 10.30pm.
How is the squad selected?
Lions coach Andy Farrell and his staff will lean heavily on performances in the most recent Six Nations, but plenty of weight will also be given to form and combinations that have been delivering at Test level for the past few years.
Farrell, who took over from Joe Schmidt as head coach of Ireland, has a mix of assistants from the unions: John Dalziel (Scotland), Simon Easterby (Ireland), John Fogarty (Ireland), Andrew Goodman (Ireland), Johnny Sexton (Ireland) and Richard Wigglesworth (England).
But most expect the dominance of Irish figures on his staff to be mirrored in the squad, which is likely to contain 37 players, in the first instance.
Ireland finished third in the Six Nations this year, behind France and England, but they won in 2023 and 2024 and were also ranked No.1 in the world at times during those two years.
Richard Wigglesworth (England), Simon Easterby (Ireland), Andy Farrell (British and Irish Lions head coach), John Dalziel (Scotland), Andrew Goodman (Ireland) and John Fogarty (Ireland).Credit: Getty Images
“They have still been the best team in the home nations over the last four years,” Horwill said.
“And four of Farrell’s assistant coaches are Ireland guys … so I still think there is going to be a strong green tinge to the squad. Wales will be lucky to have more than one or two, and Scotland will have a decent handful.
“But the majority of the squad will be English and Irish, is my gut feel.”
It is also essential for Farrell to consider players who are good tourists, who can create a happy camp alongside their ability to compete for a Test spot.
Are there any ‘Aussie’ Lions?
There have only been six Australian-raised players selected for the Lions since 1889: Alec Timms (1889), Tom Richards (1910), Ian Smith (1924), Brent Cockbain (2005), Nathan Hines (2009) and Tom Court (2013).
Sione Tuipulotu celebrates after scoring against the Wallabies in November.Credit: Getty Images
But four more could be named in this year’s squad.
Former Melbourne Rebels centre Sione Tuipulotu is considered a lock by most pundits. Now Scotland captain, Tuipulotu missed the Six Nations after tearing a pectoral muscle but is due back on the field shortly. Brumby-turned-Ireland winger Mack Hansen is also a strong chance.
Former Wallaby and now Scotland flanker Jack Dempsey is an outside shot to win selection, and Canberra-raised Ireland prop Finlay Bealham is also in the conversation.
The topic of foreign-born or raised players in the Lions squad is sure to get some airtime in coming months. There could be a record number of Lions players who are eligible for their nations via grandparents or residency: James Lowe (Ire-NZ), Jamison Gibson-Park (Ire-NZ), Bundee Aki (Ire-NZ), Pierre Schoeman (Sco-SA), Duhan van der Merwe (Sco-SA), David Ribbands (Eng-SA) and the aforementioned Aussies.
Will there be any bolters?
There is always a classic bolter in a Lions squad, and the name on everyone’s lips is Henry Pollock, a flashy young back-rower at Northhampton who has caught fire at exactly the right time.
The Saints rookie has been scoring tries befitting a winger, and was outstanding in their Champions Cup semi-final win over Leinster last week.
Another “bolter” at the centre of much discussion is at the other end of the experience scale: Owen Farrell.
Though Farrell retired from Test rugby for England, the 33-year-old is still playing for Racing 92 in France and many believe he will get a call up from coach – and dad – Andy Farrell.
Who will be the captain?
The consensus was Farrell would make his choice for captain between Ireland skipper Caelan Doris and England veteran lock Maro Itoje.
That pick appears more straightforward now, however, after news emerged this week that Doris injured a shoulder for Leinster and requires surgery. He hasn’t yet been ruled out, but the prognosis isn’t good, and Itoje should now be a walk-up start for the captaincy.
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