Beirne named captain as British & Irish Lions name three debutants to face NSW Waratahs

Thu, Jul 3, 2025, 10:00 AM
Nathan Williamson
by Nathan Williamson
Tadhg Beirne skippers the British & Irish Lions against the NSW Waratahs. Photo: Getty Images
Tadhg Beirne skippers the British & Irish Lions against the NSW Waratahs. Photo: Getty Images

Ireland second-rower Tadhg Beirne will captain the British & Irish Lions against the NSW Waratahs on Saturday.

Beirne becomes the third captain of the tour alongside countryman Dan Sheehan and England lock Maro Itoje.

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He is joined in the second row by fellow Irishman James Ryan, who came off the bench in the win over the Queensland Reds.

Coach Andy Farrell has named three new faces for the Lions debuts, with Hugo Keenan, Blair Kinghorn and Ben White named in the side.

Kinghorn will line up on the wing after joining the camp late following his efforts in Toulouse's Top 14 Final success.

Hugo Keenan has been cleared to start at fullback after the Irish outside back was a late withdrawal on Wednesday due to illness.

Meanwhile, White has been named on the bench following Tomas Williams’ tour-ending hamstring injury.

“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. The games are coming thick and fast now as we face a Waratahs side who will want to make their mark," Farrell said.

In further changes, it’s a brand new front-row as Pierre Schoeman, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Finlay Bealham earn a start.

Exciting English young gun Henry Pollock returns to the starting side at blindside flanker, with Ben Earl making his first start in Australia at number eight.

Saints teammates Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith combine in the halves, with Scotland and Glasgow duo Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones in the midfield.

Farrell has named a strong bench, with Sheehan, Ellis Genge and Tadhg Furlong named as the front-row replacements.

Joe McCarthy and Jac Morgan, the respective players of the matches from the opening two tour games in Australia, have been named in a six-two bench split.

White and Marcus Smith round out the 23, with Smith coming off the bench against the Force last week.

The Lions also confirmed Owen Farrell will join the group on Friday after a tour-ending broken arm to Elliot Daly.

BRITISH AND IRISH LIONS (15-1): Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, Blair Kinghorn, Fin Smith, Alex Mitchell, Ben Earl, Josh van der Flier, Henry Pollock, James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne (c), Finlay Bealham, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Pierre Schoeman

Replacements: Dan Sheehan, Ellis Genge, Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy, Scott Cummings, Jac Morgan, Ben White, Marcus Smith

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