British and Irish Lions: Assessing seven potential French-based tourists including ‘world-class’ forward
From left to right: Ben White, Jack Willis and Blair Kinghorn
British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell has confirmed he will consider players currently based in France, and is already in discussions about how it could work.
The latter stages of the Top 14 play-offs and the final itself clash with some of the tour to Australia, meaning if players were selected from competing clubs, they would join the tour late.
“We’re open-minded about all of that,” Farrell said on selecting French-based players. “As we start to whittle it down the dynamics become a little bit different, but we don’t know if we’re going to have sufficient players in certain positions where we’re able to get on a plane and somebody could join us for game three.”
“We could even have a conversation with some clubs over there, they might release them,” he added. “These things will be ongoing.”
A number of British and Irish players currently ply their trade over the Channel in France, in both the Top 14 and Pro D2, and while some of them might not have played Test rugby for some time they would still be leading contenders to be involved with the Lions this summer.
But, which could Farrell turn to if he were to pick a large cohort from France? Well, here is our breakdown of the leading French-based players who could tour with the Lions this summer.
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Blair Kinghorn
Six Nations Player of the Championship nominee Blair Kinghorn is almost certainly one French-based star destined for the Lions this summer, but he is arguably the source of the whole debate with their selections. Kinghorn is a regular feature for Toulouse at the minute, be it at full-back or on the wing, meaning if Les Rouge et Noir reach the latter stages of the play-offs or even the final, he would probably play a major role in their team again.
That being said, though, you’d still imagine Farrell would move heaven and earth to bring Kinghorn on tour. His performances for Scotland in the Six Nations, coupled with his outings for Toulouse, have put him right in the picture to start at full-back in the Test side this summer, and even if he doesn’t start his ability to cover both wing and fly-half make him a perfect option for the matchday 23 if Farrell wants to use a 6/2 split.
Jack Willis
Despite not playing for England since the 2023 World Cup, Jack Willis is right in the mix to go on the Lions tour this summer after some truly world-class performances for Toulouse. Like clubmate Kinghorn, Willis has just hit new heights since his switch and has not only become a regular feature in their back-row but has also captained the side on multiple occasions.
Again, though, he would likely be a crucial part of Toulouse’s play-off campaign should they get there, which could throw a spanner in the works.
Another thing that does put a slight question mark over his inclusion is the fact that the rest of his competition have excelled at Test level in recent months, particularly the likes of Ben and Tom Curry, Jac Morgan, Ben Earl and Jamie Ritchie, but there is no doubting his performances for the defending Top 14 and European champions commands a spot in Farrell’s party if not the Test side.
Owen Farrell
We couldn’t do a list of potential French-based Lions without including Owen Farrell. The former England skipper might be featuring in a struggling Racing 92 side, but there is no doubt that he is still a quality player and could be a real asset to the Lions this summer. On top of his obvious quality, he would bring heaps of leadership and experience to the group and as he did for England for so many years would help set the standards for the rest of the group to follow.
Racing also aren’t likely to make it deep into the play-offs this year either, meaning he would be available for the whole tour.
But, like Willis, he faces stern competition from players who are shining at Test level. At fly-half, he is coming up against the likes of Fin and Marcus Smith, Finn Russell, Sam Prendergast and Jack Crowley, and even at 12, he is up against Bundee Aki, Robbie Henshaw, Fraser Dingwall, Sione Tuipulotu or even the ever-versatile Tom Jordan (who covers virtually every position in the backline and looks certain to tour).
Courtney Lawes
While he might be playing in Pro D2, two-time tourist Courtney Lawes would be an exceptional option to bolster Farrell’s squad. He’s showing no signs of slowing down with age; if anything he’s just getting better and better and would come into the tour in great form. He would also add heaps of leadership and quality to the squad, but also brings some extra versatility of covering both flanker and second-row.
Like many on this list, there’s a lot of competition in his way. Maro Itoje and Tadhg Beirne are leading the way at lock, but underneath that Joe McCarthy and Ollie Chessum are all more than viable options. In the back-row too, there’s the aforementioned cohort on top of the likes of Rory Darge, Ben Earl and Jack Conan as well.
Dave Ribbans
Another English international who has excelled since moving to France is Dave Ribbans, and he’s more than in the mix for the summer tour as a result. The imposing lock has become a real standout for Toulon since his switch after the World Cup and has reaped the rewards of his form with the captain’s armband.
There are strong candidates ahead of him right now, though, with the aforementioned cohort alongside George Martin and Grant Gilchrist, but you feel his sort of physicality and power around the park would be a big weapon.
One thing going against him, though is the form of Toulon, who look right in the mix for silverware come the end of the season. With the margins so slim between competitors, his unavailability in those early games could be the difference.
Ben White
Kinghorn’s compatriot Ben White is firmly in the mix after his impressive Six Nations, but like Ribbans, his club’s form could be a major speedbump for him.
Scrum-half is pretty open right now, with only Jamison Gibson-Park emerging as a definite tourist, and White did perform well against the likes of Alex Mitchell and Tomos Williams this Championship, so he should be in the mix. He would also maintain that sort of controlled attacking play that Gibson-Park plays too, which is a big tick in his box.
Joe Marchant
Fluidity in the backline is becoming increasingly important given the use of the 6/2 split, and Joe Marchant would bring exactly that for the Lions if called in. The former Quins ace showed real Test promise during the World Cup, and even despite Stade Francais’ poor form this year he has been a standout performer for them. The fact his side will be nowhere near the play-offs also means he could easily link up with the squad for the whole tour.
But, the backline is already a heavily congested area. Huw Jones has emerged as the leading contender to wear 13 this summer, and Garry Ringrose is also an option, but it’s the wing where he faces the strongest competition with the likes of Darcy Graham, James Lowe and Duhan van der Merwe leading the pack.
Even in that sort of utility role, Tommy Freeman and Elliot Daly are pushing their name into contention to tour as well.
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