Where are they now? The last British and Irish Lions team that faced the Wallabies in 2013
The British and Irish Lions celebrate their 2013 series win over Australia
12 years after the British and Irish Lions last played the Wallabies in a Test match, Andy Farrell is poised to name his side for this Saturday’s 2025 series opener in Brisbane.
Australia went into the 2013 series decider believing they had the momentum following their series-levelling win in Melbourne.
However, despite the incredible controversy that ignited over Warren Gatland’s axing of Brian O’Driscoll, the legendary Ireland midfielder, for the third Test in Sydney, the Lions broke the Wallabies’ resolve and they cantered to a 41-16 win.
Here is the Planet Rugby rundown on where you will now find the series-deciding class of 2013:
15 Leigh Halfpenny: After finishing up at Harlequins at the end of the 2024/25 season, the 36-year-old was in Japan in recent weeks as a Wales skills coach. Tipped to continue his playing career, with the Pro D2 in France a potential destination.
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14 Tommy Bowe: Quit playing in the summer of 2018. The 41-year-old has forged a successful media career, currently co-presenting the Ireland AM breakfast TV show on Virgin Media One. Also has a shoe company, Lloyd & Pryce, and XV Kings clothing.
13 Jonathan Davies: Found himself in the eye of a storm during that last week on the 2013 tour after getting selected in place of O’Driscoll. Retired from playing in the summer of 2024, the 37-year-old has since enjoyed a testimonial year and runs Healf, a website store featuring handpicked products from his favourite brands.
12 Jamie Roberts: It was 2022 when the qualified doctor called it quits as a player. The 38-year-old now dabbles in broadcasting and public speaking.
11 George North: The 33-year-old has stepped away from Test rugby but is still playing, having switched to France in the summer of 2024 to take up a multi-year deal at Provence in the Pro D2.
10 Johnny Sexton: The 2023 Rugby World Cup was his last hurrah as a player. The recently turned 40-year-old soon transitioned into the role as chief of staff at the Ardagh Group, but he is now coaching rugby, assisting the Lions on their 2025 trip to Australia before taking up a full-time position with Farrell’s Ireland set-up.
9 Mike Phillips: The 42-year-old can now be found in Dubai as part of the business development team at TXM Solution. He is also a regular on the charity fundraiser circuit back in Wales. Retired from playing in 2017.
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8 Taulupe Faletau: Now 34 years of age, the back-rower is still playing but was only considered an outside shot at selection for the 2025 Lions due to a run of injuries in recent years. That frustration has continued for the Cardiff player as heat-related cramps ruled him out of Wales’ win over Japan last weekend.
7 Sean O’Brien: Having hung up the boots at the end of the 2021/22 season with London Irish, the 38-year-old is now part of Leo Cullen’s coaching ticket at Leinster. Aside from farming in Carlow, the 38-year-old has other business interests, including Grand Slam Bars, a pub chain he co-owns with the likes of Rob Kearney and Jamie Heaslip.
6 Dan Lydiate: Dragons’ recent season-ending United Rugby Championship trip to South Africa brought the curtain down on his playing career, the 37-year-old’s last act seeing him driven away on a medical cart in Cape Town following an injury. Having served last season as a player/coach, he will now become a full-time breakdown coach at the Rodney Parade franchise.
5 Geoff Parling: The 41-year-old is plotting against the Lions in this latest series as the Wallabies’ forwards coach. When finished, he will return to England to succeed Michael Cheika as head coach at Leicester Tigers.
4 Alun Wyn Jones: Rugby’s most capped Test player signed off from playing following a 2023 stint at Toulon. Set to turn 40 in September, he had corrective heart surgery to fix the atrial fibrillation diagnosis discovered during a medical in France. Also has several business interests, including Cardiff Distillery.
3 Adam Jones: It was 2018 when the tighthead finished up as a player. Now 44, he transitioned into scrum coaching at Harlequins and is now also assisting Matt Sherratt’s Wales.
2 Richard Hibbard: The 41-year-old quit as a player with immediate effect in January 2022. He is now the Wales Rugby League CEO, and his business interests include The Hideout Cafe in Port Talbot.
1 Alex Corbisiero: Quit playing in 2016 following a rotten run with injury. The 36-year-old, who had chemotherapy treatment for testicular cancer, has numerous business interests, including Major League Rugby punditry in the USA.
Replacements:
16 Tom Youngs: Retired from playing in May 2022 to focus on caring for his wife Tiffany, who has since sadly passed away. The 38-year-old now farms in partnership with his cousin George.
17 Mako Vunipola: The legendary 34-year-old ex-Saracens prop is still on the go as a player, joining Vannes last season for their debut season in the Top 14, which ended in relegation back to the Pro D2.
18 Dan Cole: The 38-year-old called it quits as a player following last month’s defeat for Leicester in the Gallagher Premiership final. Has eked out a media sideline in the last year, co-presenting a successful podcast with Ben Youngs, who also retired from playing following the recent title loss to Bath.
19 Richie Gray: The 35-year-old Scot continues to spread his rugby wings, lining out in Japan for Toyota Verblitz this season. Was in France for seven years before a 2020 return to Glasgow.
20 Justin Tipuric: Retired from playing at the age of 35 at the end of the 2024/25 season with Ospreys. Will now move into coaching, specialising in defence, with his region.
21 Conor Murray: The 36-year-old has just finished up playing for Ireland and Munster but is said to be looking to play on overseas following a summer where he picked up some media work and finalised a soon-to-be-published autobiography.
22 Owen Farrell: Spent last season off Broadway in the colours of Racing 92, but the 33-year-old is now back at Saracens and is also in the hunt for Lions Test squad selection following his arrival in Australia as a replacement for the injured Elliot Daly.
23 Manu Tuilagi: The 34-year-old can now be found in the south of France, playing for Top 14 semi-finalists Bayonne after calling time on his England career.