The British & Irish Lions have selected their squad for the upcoming tour of Australia.
Coach Andy Farrell has unveiled the selected players to take on the Wallabies and the Australian sides along with his captain, which has just been confirmed as Maro Itoje
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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.
The clock has struck midnight and that ends our coverage!
Thank you for joining us on the journey as we hit 50 days before the Lions will play their first game on Australian soil against the Western Force.
Keep an eye on the Rugby.com.au website and channel for further reaction and fallout from the announcement.
The show goes across the four nations selected to find out their reactions.
They seem to be targeting those with Australian accents as Mack Hansen is left speechless "for the first time in his career."
Sione Tuipulotu is flanked by his Glasgow teammates Huw Jones, Scott Cummings and Zander Fagerson and says he's back on the park either this week or next.
Meanwhile, Wales scrumhalf Tomos Williams admits he shed a tear when he found out his selection, one of two Welsh players in the squad.
"First and foremost, congratulations to everyone selected. To be involved in 38-man squad is something they will remember forever.
"But also, commiserations to the guys who had dreams of being selected today.
"A lot of things can happen on a Lions tour, between now and then.
"For everyone who has ambition, keep fighting, stay fit and we’ll be watching."
Alex Corbisiero's heroics from 2013 are brought up constantly
"It's a huge day for all the players and their families," he said.
"I've been on both sides of it, where it's either the best or worst day of your career, it's a very special day, and they will be remembered forever.
"One thing I will say is that if you weren't picked today, there's still plenty of rugby to be played. It's a very exciting squad."
Forwards: Tadhg Beirne, Ollie Chessum, Jack Conan, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Scott Cummings, Tom Curry, Ben Earl, Zander Fagerson, Tadhg Furlong, Ellis Genge, Maro Itoje, Ronan Kelleher, Joe McCarthy, Jac Morgan, Henry Pollock, Andrew Porter, James Ryan, Pierre Schoeman, Dan Sheehan, Will Stuart, Josh van der Flier
Backs: Bundee Aki, Elliot Daly, Tommy Freeman, Jamison Gibson-Park, Mack Hansen, Huw Jones, Hugo Keenan, Blair Kinghorn, James Lowe, Alex Mitchell, Garry Ringrose, Finn Russell, Fin Smith, Marcus Smith, Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe, Tomos Williams
Henry Pollock by far gets the biggest cheers along with anyone associated with the Saracens club and with the last name Smith.
It was a 38 player squad, with England hooker Jamie George amongst the surprise omissions along with Jack Willis, Robbie Henshaw and Darcy Graham.
There's no place for Owen Farrell or Sam Prendergast despite a late push for Farrell, whilst Caelan Doris' fate is sealed.
Meanwhile, Mack Hansen is the big inclusion as he battles back from injury.
LIST IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER
Bundee Aki
Elliot Daly
Tommy Freeman
Jamison Gibson-Park
Mack Hansen
Hugo Keenan
Blair Kinghorn
James Lowe
Alex Mitchell
Gary Ringrose
Finn Russell
Fin Smith
Marcus Smith
Sione Tuipulotu
Duhan van der Merwe
Tomas Williams
LIST IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER
Tadhg Berine
Ollie Chessum
Jack Conan
Luke Cowan-Dickie
Scott Cummings
Tom Curry
Ben Earl
Zander Fagerson
Tadhg Furlong
Ellis Genge
Maro Itoje (c)
Ronan Kelleher
Joe McCarthy
Jac Morgan
Henry Pollock
Andrew Porter
James Ryan
Pierre Schoeman
Dan Sheehan
Will Stuart
Josh van der Flier
The stream resumes from break and shows highlights of the 2013 Lions campaign, including Kurtley Beale's slip.
This is enough for war - or at least a snarky tweet - in some cultures.
Any moment now the squad will be named as they talk up what it would mean to go back-to-back for the first time....
In true TV fashion, we have to wait longer for the squad to be named.
The coverage goes to a break after Itoje explains what it means to be a Lion and continue the legacy left.
"It's a tremendous honour, it's a tremendous privilege. You think about the people who have held this position before and it's remarkable. It's an honour and I will do my very best to make sure I can contribute to a successful tour," Itoje said, with footage of the captain's dinner shown.
England captain Maro Itoje will lead the Lions in 2025. It comes as a shock to absolutely nobody.
A who's who of Lions leaders speak on what it means to lead the Lions, before coach Andy Farrell announces Itoje as captain.
Alun Wyn Jones is on stage to pass the baton as Itoje comes out to massive applause.
“He’s the beacon, he’s the leader, he’s the person everyone looks up to, not only because he’s outstanding at his profession, because of how he makes people feel," Farrell says, keen to not give it away before Itoje walks out with Lion in hand.
Itoje reveals he got the call on Tuesday from an Irish number, hearing Farrell's Wigan accent in between the call cutting out.
“I’m feeling great, I’m pretty chilled actually. My job is done, Ieuan is the one who’s got to read it out so he’s got the hard work," he joked.
"I’m delighted to get to this stage, there has been a lot of work in the background with the planning.
"Now we get to the point of the real stuff (and) the rugby.”
Right, we're getting close now as the big dogs come onto stage.
Evans is set to be the man to read out the names, with some important names on his big cue cards.
Word coming from Sky Sport is that a 40-player squad is expected to be named.
Evans explains how he found out he was in squads for his first was via Telegram.
We're live with the Lions stream as Ugo Monye and Lee McKenzie host the proceedings.
The Indigo in the O2 is packed with fans for the big occasion, with the hosts announcing every name will be a part of a mural in London by Nelly (no, not that Nelly).
Ten minutes away from the squad being named, with the stream taking a brief break to set-up what will come.
The stream has begun - sort of - as scrum coach John Fogarty and fitness coach Aled Walters can be heard with no video.
Fogarty is asked how you unite the team and an audience member yells out "open the bar"
The first of many sledges
For anyone looking to watch along, check out the player below.
At the time of writing, over 15k were waiting for the stream to start, and that number is rapidly rising.
The crowd is packing into the O2 for the historic squad announcement, and it will be the first time fans will be present for the naming.
Hosts Ugo Monye and Lee McKenzie will kick off proceedings in just over 15 minutes' time, with the squad likely to be read out from 11:00 pm
For those Australian fans unfamiliar with the Northampton sensation, get used to it.
The 20-year-old Henry Pollock is expected to be the youngest player in the squad after a spectacular season for the Saints.
Watch below for some of his highlights.
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.
