British and Irish Lions squad in numbers as Leinster dominate and milestone awaits Maro Itoje
British and Irish Lions captain Maro Itoje and an inset of Henry Pollock
Following the announcement of the British and Irish Lions squad to tour Australia, we break down Andy Farrell’s selections.
So, without further ado, here’s some of the numbers behind the squad that Farrell has picked.
Lions squad in numbers
1 – This is the first British and Irish Lions squad named in front of a live audience.
38 – Farrell has named 38 players in his squad, featuring 21 forwards and 17 backs.
24 – Maro Itoje has been unveiled as the captain, becoming the first Englishman to lead the side since Martin Johnson did so 24 years ago.
Maro Itoje named British and Irish Lions captain ending 24-year drought
15 – 15 different clubs have are represented in the squad with 22 players from the URC, 15 from the Premiership and just one from the Top 14.
15 – Ireland have the most representation of the four nations with 15 players, they are: Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan, Tadhg Furlong, Ronan Kelleher, Joe McCarthy, Andrew Porter, James Ryan, Dan Sheehan, Josh van der Flier, Bundee Aki, Jamison Gibson-Park, Mack Hansen, Hugo Keenan, James Lowe and Garry Ringrose.
12 – Leinster have produced triple the number of 2025 Lions players compared to any other club, with Aki, Hansen and Beirne being the three Ireland players included that aren’t from the Dublin-based club.
13 – England have the second most players represented with 13 in total, they are: Ollie Chessum, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Tom Curry, Ben Earl, Ellis Genge, Maro Itoje, Henry Pollock, Will Stuart, Elliot Daly, Tommy Freeman, Alex Mitchell, Fin Smith and Marcus Smith.
4 – Four of the England players represent Northampton Saints, the joint-most behind Leinster along with Glasgow Warriors, they are: Freeman, Pollock, Mitchell and Fin Smith.
20 – Pollock is the youngest player in the squad at the age of 20. He is also the player with the fewest Test caps; one.
8 – Eight players from Scotland feature in the squad, they are: Scott Cummings, Zander Fagerson, Pierre Schoeman, Huw Jones, Blair Kinghorn, Finn Russell, Sione Tuipulotu and Duhan van der Merwe.
4 – Four of those Scotland players represent Glasgow at club level; Cummings, Fagerson, Jones and Tuipulotu.
1 – Kinghorn is the only Toulouse and French-based player to make the squad.
3 – Saracens have produced two further players, along with captain Itoje, being Elliot Daly and Earl.
2 – Only two Welshmen have been included in Farrell’s squad, they are Tomos Williams of Gloucester and Ospreys’ Jac Morgan.
50 – Since 1974, 50% of the British and Irish Lions captain have been second-rowers with Itoje joining Willie John McBride, Alun Wyn Jones, Paul O’Connell, Martin Johnson and Bill Beaumont
Cameraman blunder prematurely reveals British and Irish Lions captain Maro Itoje
Since 1974, 50% of Lions skippers have been locks.
🏉#maroitoje #BritishandIrishLions
— James While (@jameswhile) May 8, 2025
17 – 21 of the players included in the squad are in their 20s, with the 17 exceptions being Daly, Lowe, Jones, Tuipulotu, Aki, Ringrose, Russell, Gibson-Park, Williams, Genge, Schoeman, Cowan-Dickie, Furlong, Itoje, Beirne, Van der Flier and Conan.
93 – Itoje has more international caps than any other British and Irish Lions player (93) with the England lock set to bring up his 100th cap when he leads the Lions out for the first time, which could be against Argentina if it is granted Test status.
26 – The squad features 26 first-time tourists while while nine players will participate in their second Lions tour.
3 – Furlong and Daly have also been selected for a third Lions Tour, along with captain Itoje.
The British and Irish Lions squad
Forwards: Maro Itoje (c), 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
