British and Irish Lions team: Maro Itoje hits 100 in an Ireland-heavy XV as Andy Farrell makes surprising calls for series opener

https://d3gbf3ykm8gp5c.cloudfront.net/content/uploads/2025/07/17073520/British-and-Irish-Lions-captain-Maro-Itoje-and-an-inset-of-head-coach-Andy-Farrell-1-120x120.jpg

17/07/2025 07:36

Andy Farrell has named the Lions team for the Test series opener.

Read more on Planet Rugby

Top 5 Home

1.

17/07/2025 16:51

Junior Springboks unchanged for World Rugby U20 Championship final

2.

17/07/2025 17:07

World Rugby make major law change that slashes number of foreign-born British & Irish Lions

3.

17/07/2025 17:12

'Future is very, very bright': Junior Boks boss on superstar compared to Dupont

4.

17/07/2025 17:03

"Debut bound" – 5 Australia players to watch against the British & Irish Lions

5.

17/07/2025 17:15

"Cortez Ratima vs Nolann Le Garrec" – 3 Key Battles: New Zealand vs France (3rd Test)

6.

17/07/2025 17:41

Welsh wipeout in Lions squad reflects sorry decline from nation's storied history

7.

17/07/2025 18:01

How Ellis Genge went from wild child to Lions leader: Eddie Jones, Courtney Lawes and more reveal all about 'Baby Rhino'

8.

17/07/2025 16:46

Australia v British and Irish Lions preview: Andy Farrell's men to 'overpower' weakened Wallabies in a hard-fought series opener

9.

17/07/2025 16:55

Springboks star reveals how Bomb Squad plan to 'set things right' against Georgia

10.

17/07/2025 16:42

Nigel Owens issues definitive verdict on 'clever' Springboks tactics after previous 'problem' with Rassie Erasmus' innovation

11.

17/07/2025 18:00

Lions star Ellis Genge getting tips from Eddie Jones as ex-England boss shows ruthlessness

12.

17/07/2025 18:52

He dated an Olympic golden girl and a Miss Universe Australia. Now Quade Cooper's romantic life has taken an unexpected turn - as he mounts a code-hopping career move that's stunned the rugby world

13.

17/07/2025 18:52

Ex-Wallabies star James O'Connor breaks his silence about one of the biggest scandals of his colourful career - 'looks like we didn't care'

14.

17/07/2025 18:53

The astonishing story of the first Lions tour Down Under: A captain who drowned halfway through, 55 games in 249 days, 120 dead kangaroos and hares, six weeks on a boat with stoats and weasels ...and what it shows best about rugby

15.

17/07/2025 18:56

Waratahs 10-21 British & Irish Lions PLAYER RATINGS: Who looked short of game-time? Who lacked their usual authority? And who is unlikely to challenge for a Test place?

16.

17/07/2025 18:57

WORLD OF RUGBY: Alarm bells ring for Lions chiefs as Irish contingent fail their audition to leave plans up in the air with two weeks to go until Australia Test, writes CHRIS FOY

17.

17/07/2025 18:57

Argentina 12-35 England: Steve Borthwick's side claim impressive victory over the Pumas despite being without 13 players on Lions duty

18.

17/07/2025 18:36

One month in the life of a retired rugby player: DAN BIGGAR on taking in the Lions tour as an outsider and making memories at the Australia Zoo

19.

17/07/2025 18:39

This is the Lions team Andy Farrell must pick for first Test - and why the most crucial player isn't who you might think: CHRIS FOY

20.

17/07/2025 18:40

Jamie George reveals he pushed to be allowed to lead England against Argentina after Lions callup