8 Scots in 2025 British & Irish Lions Squad

Andy Farrell today named the 38 man squad for the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia, and picked 8 Scots in the process 9 if you count Scots qualified but England player wunderkind Henry Pollock who will be the youngest man on tour. The squad is made up of 15 players from Ireland, 13 from England, 8 from Scotland and 2 from Wales.

Amidst a slightly boorish atmosphere now that fans have been allowed the (paid) privilege of attending the broadcast, it was announced England second row Mario Itoje will captain the tour.

Second row is possibly the weakest area for Scotland at the moment, given injuries to players that hampered their chance to shine during the Six Nations and the recent retirement of Richie Gray who was a Lion during the last tour to Australia in 2013. Nevertheless, Scott Cummings was selected despite not featuring in the northern hemisphere’s showcase tournament and beating out Courtney Lawes.

Another who missed out on the Six Nations was Sione Tuipulotu, but the class he showed in the Autumn when he was Scotland skipper has done him a lot of credit. He’ll be relishing the chance to recreate the Huipulotu partnership at the highest level with Huw Jones who thoroughly deserves his selection, having worked on his game to become one of the best outside centres in the game.

Given a fair wind and some good form down under they may also get the chance to play alongside fellow Scotland player Finn Russell, Blair Kinghorn and Duhan van der Merwe which could make up a Scotland heavy back line. It’s unlikely we’ll see that trotted out for the tests but there’s an argument to say you could throw the whole lot in one for of the provincial games and they’d probably carve it up. Russell should never really have been in doubt, but there were worries Irish or familial favouritsm might swing a place for Sam Predergast or Owen Farrell and a lot of chatter online.

Van der Merwe and Kinghorn have possible injury question marks over them but should be fit in time for the tour. Kinghorn may also be expected to take some part in the end of Toulouse’s season.

With four players from Glasgow, Edinburgh’s two representative are both South African born in Duhan and Pierre Schoemann, with the likes of Darcy Graham and Jamie Ritchie very unlucky to miss out. On the other hand they are highly likely to be top of the list of reserves. Like some of Scotland’s own selections in the back three, Ireland’s Mack Hansen is currently injured and so must be a concern for the start of the tour.

Luckily, most of the Scots are not controversial picks, but looking at the list of names from all countries left behind, it was undoubtedly a huge selection headache for Farrell.

Forwards: Scott Cummings, Zander Fagerson, Pierre Schoeman.
Backs: Huw Jones, Blair Kinghorn, Finn Russell, Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe.

The Lions will face Argentina in the 1888 Cup in Dublin, Ireland on Friday, June 20 before heading down under.

The Tour includes fixtures against Western Force, Queensland Reds, NSW Waratahs, ACT Brumbies, ANZAC Invitational XV, First Nations & Pasifika XV and three Tests against Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies.

The Complete 2025 British & Irish Lions Squad:

Forwards: (21)
Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby/Ireland) #838
Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers/England)
Jack Conan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #839
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks/England) #851
Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors/ Scotland)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks/England) #853
Ben Earl (Saracens/England)
Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland) #848
Tadhg Furlong (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #818
Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears/England)
Maro Itoje (Saracens/England) #825 (C)
Ronan Kelleher (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
Joe McCarthy (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
Jac Morgan (Ospreys/Wales)
Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints/England)
Andrew Porter (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
James Ryan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
Dan Sheehan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby/Scotland)
Will Stuart (Bath Rugby/England)
Josh van der Flier (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)

Backs: (17)
Bundee Aki (Connacht Rugby/Ireland) #837
Elliot Daly (Saracens/England) #822
Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints/England)
Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
Mack Hansen (Connacht Rugby/Ireland)
Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland)
Hugo Keenan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse/Scotland)
James Lowe (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints/England)
Garry Ringrose (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
Finn Russell (Bath Rugby/Scotland) #835
Fin Smith (Northampton Saints/England)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins/ England) #855
Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland)
Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby/Scotland) #841
Tomos Williams (Gloucester Rugby/Wales)

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