British & Irish Lions: 10 potential captain candidates for Andy Farrell including ‘clear’ front-runner
From left to right: Caelan Doris, Sione Tuipulotu and Dewi Lake
With it now being 2025, the focus across the home nations is quickly turning onto the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia in the summer.
Andy Farrell has swapped his emerald tracksuit for the ruby red of the famous touring side, and will likely already be thinking about his possible captain for the venture down under.
Some clear options are already emerging from the woodwork, but who will Farrell settle on in July? Well, here are the runners and riders for the captaincy.
Front-runner: Caelan Doris
The clear leader of the chasing pack is current Ireland skipper Caelan Doris. The number eight has been inspirational for Ireland during a hit-and-miss year, and his connection with Farrell could make this a seamless transition into the Lions jersey. Doris is one of those players who leads with his actions, which is pivotal in a British and Irish Lions tour.
In the mix: Sione Tuipulotu, Dewi Lake, Maro Itoje
Just underneath Doris are three men with recent Test captaincy experience in Sione Tuipulotu, Dewi Lake and Maro Itoje.
Starting with Scotland skipper Tuipulotu – who would lead the Lions against his home nation if picked as captain – he has been in fantastic form in 2024, and a large part of that could be put on being given the Scotland captaincy. Since taking the mantel in the autumn, Tuipulotu has just taken his game to new heights and has set the tone for a rampant attack, and this step-up could push Farrell into making him skipper.
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Wales skipper Lake is arguably one of just a small handful of Wales players with one foot in the Test team, and he could very easily be named as captain. The hooker is another player – like Doris – who just works tirelessly for his side and sets the tone too with his aggressive carrying and staunch defending. His form – albeit in a losing team – has also put him right in contention for a starting shirt too.
Finally, Itoje always seems to be thrown into the Lions captaincy mix, and this could be his year to finally get the title. The two-time tourist has led club side Saracens well this season, and has also stepped up to the title when Jamie George is off the pitch for England, and is another player who leads with his actions. A potential spanner in the works is that England have failed to close out games whilst he has been captain.
Outside bets: Jamie George, Tadhg Beirne, Courtney Lawes, Owen Farrell, Garry Ringrose
There are also several players who might be outside shouts to take on the captaincy gig.
England skipper George would be a fine Test captain and has done the role well for England this year despite their form. The only thing that goes against him is competition for the Test jersey. You feel George is a player who will start a game but never come off the bench, and if he was to start in the Test side he would need to oust both Dan Sheehan and the aforementioned Lake. He would do the role well though, and has captained the Lions midweek side in 2021 too.
Tadhg Beirne is a rogue shout to lead the touring party, but like a lot of the players mentioned he is a proper leader on the pitch. He is one of Farrell’s most trusted advisors for Ireland and has rapidly improved during the Englishman’s tenure too. Beirne is also likely to play a major role in the Test side too, so he could be a dependable option as captain.
Courtney Lawes and Owen Farrell are very much outside bets, given they are currently out of the international picture while playing in France, but if they are drafted in would be fine choices. They have both led their country admirably in different times and would be an experienced head to set the standards for the rest of the squad to follow.
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Last but not least, Garry Ringrose could be a shrew option to lead the Lions this summer. His time as Leinster co-captain has given him the experience of captaincy, albeit alongside James Ryan. Furthermore, he is another of Farrell’s trusted leaders in the Green jersey and could make that next step well. His Lions omissions would also be a huge emotional driver that he could use to galvanise the squad with.
Surely not: Finn Russell
This is probably pie-in-the-sky thinking, but Finn Russell could be a brilliant Lions captain. He seems to be the fly-half-elect for the upcoming tour, given his electric form for both Bath and Scotland, and he has actually become a seriously good leader too. His relaxed style of play has allowed him to remain calm on the pitch, a skill often overlooked when picking a skipper. Russell also has recent Test captaincy experience with Scotland, which is another big tick in his box. Farrell wouldn’t, would he?
