B&I Lions boss springs huge Farrell surprise
SQUAD UPDATE: Former England captain Owen Farrell received a shock British and Irish Lions call-up Thursday after utility back Elliot Daly was ruled out of their Australia tour with a fractured arm.
The 33-year-old, a three-time Lions tourist and son of coach Andy Farrell, earned the last of his 112 Test caps at the 2023 World Cup and has not played any rugby for nearly nine weeks.
But the flyhalf is a proven international performer, and his father said when he announced the initial 38-man squad that he could be an injury replacement.
“All set for his fourth Lions tour, Owen Farrell will join the squad in Sydney,” the Lions said on social media.
The versatile Daly was forced off during the second half of the Lions’ 52-12 victory over Queensland Reds on Wednesday, with X-rays revealing a fractured forearm.
It is their second injury setback since arriving in Australia for their nine-match tour on June 22.
Experienced Welsh scrumhalf Tomos Williams pulled a hamstring during their opening clash with Western Force and is also out of the tour.
Toulon and Scotland’s Ben White has joined the squad as a replacement.
All set for his fourth Lions Tour, Owen Farrell will join the squad in Sydney! 🦁#Lions2025 pic.twitter.com/uSN79obHk0
— British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 3, 2025
Meanwhile, Andy Farrell has named the team that will face off against the Waratahs on Saturday in Sydney.
Munster and Ireland’s Tadhg Beirne will captain the side as Maro Itoje gets the weekend off after leading the tourists to victory against the Queensland Reds.
Beirne is joined in the second row by fellow Irishman and Leinster’s James Ryan.
Edinburgh and Scotland prop Pierre Schoeman, Sale Sharks and England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie and Connacht and Ireland tighthead Finlay Bealham pack down in the front row.
The back row is made up of Northampton Saints and England’s Henry Pollock at No.6, Leinster and Ireland’s Josh van der Flier at No.7 and Saracens and England’s Ben Earl at No.8.
The backline sees the English duo and Northampton Saints teammates Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith at scrumhalf and flyhalf, with the Scotland partnership of Glasgow Warriors duo Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones in the centres.
Leinster and Ireland’s Hugo Keenan and Toulouse and Scotland’s Blair Kinghorn will make their Lions debuts and are joined in the back three by Connacht and Ireland’s Mack Hansen.
“Congratulations to Tadhg who will lead the side on Saturday night – and also to Blair, Hugo and Ben who will all make their Lions debuts,” said Andy Farrell.
“The games are coming thick and fast now as we face a Waratahs side who will want to make their mark.”
British and Irish Lions: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Blair Kinghorn, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Alex Mitchell, 8 Ben Earl, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Henry Pollock, 5 James Ryan, 4 Tadhg Beirne (captain), 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Pierre Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 Dan Sheehan, 17 Ellis Genge, 18 Tadhg Furlong, 19 Joe McCarthy, 20 Scott Cummings, 21 Jac Morgan, 22 Ben White, 23 Marcus Smith.
Date: Saturday, June 5
Venue: Aussie Stadium, Sydney
Kick-off: 20.00 (11.00 UK tiome; 10.00 GMT)
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: James Doleman (New Zealand), Angus Mabey (New Zealand)
TMO: Richard Kelly (New Zealand)
Additional reporting: AFP
