The British & Irish Lions are about to unveil their squad for the upcoming tour of Australia.
Coach Andy Farrell will unveil the selected players to take on the Wallabies and the Australian sides along with his captain.
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It's expected to be a massive event, with fans set to pack out London's O2.
Follow Rugby.com.au coverage of the lead-up and the fall-out of the event or watch on in the video below.
NATHAN WILLIAMSON
There’s going to be a big name miss out in the outside backs, such is the competition.
Scotland’s Duhan van der Merwe has fallen off many people’s radars after his ankle injury, and that could cost the explosive talent a spot on the team.
LACHLAN GREY
Lions coach Andy Farrell faces a conundrum in the flyhalf role and 2021 tourist Marcus Smith could be the unlucky loser.
While Scotland's Finn Russell looks a certainty, England's Fin Smith got his nose in front of Marcus (no relation) after spearheading a famous 26-25 win over France in February and has since steered Northampton to a Champions Cup final.
NICK WASILIEV
The most obvious omission would be Owen Farrell - not just because there are concerns around Huw Jones and Sione Tuipulotu and an experienced head would likely be a handy back-up, but imagine the Farrell Christmas lunch if he didn't get considered?
The other big challenge could be loose forwards - and the hardest done player might be Welsh loose forward Aaron Wainwright, who, despite the terrible form of his national side, has been arguably the best performer in the team.
An important note on the France-based players pushing for selection from writer Nick Wasiliev.
Scottish fullback Blair Kinghorn must be on the list but the only thing likely stopping him being the out-and-out starter would be if Toulouse make finals in the Top 14 - which could lead to Blair missing the first three games of the tour.
England flanker Jack Willis falls in the same category, with the Top 14 Final the same day as the opening Australian tour match against the Western Force.
Western Force v British & Irish Lions at 5:45pm AWST on Saturday 28 June at Optus Stadium, Perth
Queensland Reds v British & Irish Lions at 7:45pm AEST on Wednesday 2 July at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
New South Wales Waratahs v British & Irish Lions at 7:45pm AEST on Saturday 5 July at Allianz Stadium, Sydney
ACT Brumbies v British & Irish Lions at 7:45pm AEST on Wednesday 9 July at GIO Stadium, Canberra
AUNZ Invitational XV v British & Irish Lions at 7:45pm AEST on Saturday 12 July at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
Wallabies v British & Irish Lions at 7:45pm AEST on Saturday July 19 at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
First Nations & Pasifika XV v British & Irish Lions at 7:45pm AEST on Tuesday 22 July at Marvel Stadium, Melbourne
Wallabies v British & Irish Lions at 7:45pm AEST on Saturday July 26 at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
Wallabies v British & Irish Lions at 7:45pm AEST on Saturday August 2 at Accor Stadium, Sydney
There are a number of Aussie-born players who could find themselves lining up against the Wallabies for the Lions.
They're Scotland's Melburnian captain Sione Tuipulotu and Sydney's former Wallaby Jack Dempsey, as well as Ireland's Canberra duo of Mack Hansen and Finlay Bealham.
As mentioned, Tuipulotu may well have been considered a challenger for the captaincy himself until his pectoral injury.
Back-rower Dempsey may be more of a long-shot to make the squad but his chances at No.8 have increased after the dreadfully-timed injury to Doris
Both winger Hansen and prop Bealham have been stalwarts in the Ireland team overseen by Farrell
*Credit AAP
NATHAN WILLIAMSON
Henry Pollock is firming by the second to be included in the Lions squad, but what about fellow English backrower Tom Willis?
All the discussion has been around brother Jack in Toulouse, but with Caelan Doris seriously doubtful to play, the older sibling could be firmly in the mix.
LACHLAN GREY
There's plenty of hype around Northampton and England starboy Henry Pollock, so don't be surprised to see the 20-year-old edge out former Wallaby Jack Dempsey (Scotland) or Ireland's Josh van der Flier for a coveted backrow berth.
In the backline, Canberran Mack Hansen remains an outside chance to tour his home country despite an ankle injury while veteran playmaker Owen Farrell could yet play a key role as one of the few remaining victors from 2013.
NICK WASILIEV
Andy Farrell being open to select players based in France opens up several options in his squad, but if he opts to not go down that route, it would open up opportunities for the likes of former Wallaby turned Scot Jack Dempsey to make the side, given his encouraging form for Glasgow and the preverbial traffic jam there currently is in the loose forwards.
Coach Andy Farrell will have to weigh up a host of injury concerns when putting his team together.
Former Brumby Mack Hansen is amongst several who will be racing the clock to prove their fitness before the opening match in just over 50 days time.
Scottish trio Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu and Duhan van der Merwe have also missed significant time this year.
Meanwhile, Irish ace Caelan Doris looks certain to miss the tour after a nasty shoulder injury last week for Leinster
The only player on stage at the squad announcement will be the tour captain, which seems to have been revealed early by default.
England's Maro Itoje is the rumoured pick and was selected by all three writers when pressed on who would take the honour.
NATHAN WILLIAMSON
It has to be Maro Itoje right?
Caelan Doris’ injury has seemingly ended the two-horse race for the top role and it’s the English lock’s position to loose.
Sione Tuipulotu is an obvious choice to captain mid-week, which would be a special moment.
LACHLAN GREY
A suspected long-term injury to Irish skipper Caelan Doris leaves English lock Maro Itoje as the only genuine option though Melbourne's own flying Scotsman Sione Tuipulotu may yet wear the armband.
Jamie George (England) and Welshman Jac Morgan could conceivably lead the Lions in tour matches given their prior Test captaincies, however neither are surefire selections.
NICK WASILIEV
Surely, Maro Itoje would likely be the frontrunner, with Caelan Doris out and Sione Tuipolutu battling to be fit for the series. Current Wales captain Jac Morgan is likely an outsider given he'll be in tight competition for a loose forward position anyway.
If Itoje is captain, it's likely a lot of the English leadership group will be taken into consideration as a result - so another outsider could be England co-vice captain Ellis Genge- and if so, might emerge as an inspired, left-field choice.
The British & Irish Lions squad keeps with tradition, with players finding out if they are in or not via the TV.
Lions chairman Ieuan Evans, the former Welsh wing who toured in 1989, 1993 and 1997, will read out the names of those selected.
He will go down the list in alphabetical order, naming first the forwards and then the backs.
The selected group will travel to Portugal’s Algarve in the week of June 9 to train for the first time before they face Argentina in Dublin on June 20.
Welcome to Rugby.com.au's coverage of the 2025 British & Irish Squad announcement.
The team will be officially revealed at 11:00 pm AEST, with plenty of spots still up for grabs.
Follow this blog throughout the evening for insight from our Rugby.com.au's writers about who to expect in the team, biggest surprise and all the news coming out of London before the big event.
The announcement of the British & Irish Lions squad will be revealed LIVE on YouTube.
Coverage will begin from 10:45 pm and can be accessed at this link or the player above.
The British & Irish Lions squad will be revealed at 11:00 pm AEST on Thursday.
