British and Irish Lions team-mates erupt over Josh van der Flier’s brutal response to Jac Morgan
British and Irish Lions flanker Josh van der Flier had a stinging reply.
British and Irish Lions back-row Josh van der Flier was in the thick of some funny on-bus banter during the recent tour to Australia as a war of words took place.
As is often the case on rugby tours, committees are set up to keep spirits high and Ireland flank Van der Flier was put in charge of receiving and reading out player texts.
In a clip posted on X taken from the Lions‘ YouTube channel, Van der Flier is called to the front of the team coach and begins to read out a selection of text messages.
Poking fun
One of those went viral and it seems to have been sent from the only Welsh player on tour at that moment, Jac Morgan, who fired a joke at the expense of Van der Flier.
It appears the messages are to highlight someone who has had a ‘shocker’ in the group and the Van der Flier was in charge of reading them out to the players and staff.
“Alright Josh boy. You should do yourself for Barry Crocker (slang) for being the only Leinster player in the original squad not to get named in a Test team,” he narrated.
That led to hysterical laughing from a bus full of players, but in no time at all Van der Flier deflected the attention to Morgan with a savage reply that was loudly cheered.
“That’s very rich, coming from the man who’s won more games for the Lions than he has for club and country, this year,” referencing a tough spell for Welsh rugby in general.
“That’s very rich, coming from the man who’s won more games for the Lions than he has for club and country, this year!” 😅
My favourite part of the whole series of ‘The Ultimate Test’ 🦁
Josh firing back after Jac Morgan’s text message 👏🏴 pic.twitter.com/XDAVVuz09T
— Pat McCarry (@patmccarry) August 6, 2025
Morgan, who is also an Ospreys stalwart, was one of two Welsh players named in the original Lions squad before scrum-half Tomos Williams had to withdraw due to injury.
Earlier in the video there was another comical moment as Van der Flier read a text which poked fun at centre Bundee Aki and once again the bus found the joke hilarious.
“Any ideas for the Barry Crocker? I was thinking we do Bundee Aki for being 37 years old and his highest academic achievement is the World Rugby anti-doping module.”
Later, Ben Earl came to the front of the coach as part of the social committee and suggested that the 2025 squad have a reunion in Australia for the tour in 12 years’ time.
The England back-row explained that by each putting away £20 every month into an account the kitty would be at £118,000 when the tour comes around again in 2037.
