Hansen, Tuipulotu in as British and Irish Lions name squad for Australian tour

Thu, May 8, 2025, 2:19 PM
AW
by AAP and Nathan Williamson
Mack Hansen has been named in the British and Irish Lions squad. Photo: Getty Images
Mack Hansen has been named in the British and Irish Lions squad. Photo: Getty Images

Australian bornMack Hansen and Sione Tuipulotu will return to their homeland with a British & Irish Lions side led by Maro Itoje for the eagerly awaited three-Test series against the Wallabies.

Canberra's Ireland wing Hansen and Melbourne's Scottish centre Tuipulotu are set to be key figures in the 38-strong squad that was named on Thursday in a special unveiling event at London's O2 Arena.

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England's Itoje will captain the squad that features 21 forwards and 17 backs, with coach Andy Farrell hailing him as "a special person."

Tuipulotu, the Scottish captain who had missed the whole of the Six Nations with a pectoral inujry, learned the news with three of his Glasgow Warriors colleagues who were also selected.

"To be honest, I'm struggling to speak a bit. I'm just relieved, excited, everything you could imagine ... it's unreal," said Tuipulotu, who led the Scots to victory over the Wallabies last November.

"I've been back in full training for the last couple of weeks, hitting things again and I'm feeling really good. It's either this week or next week that I'll be able to play again."

Winger Hansen is one of Farrell's favourites, having done such a fine job for the Englishman when he was in charge in Dublin.

But there was no place in a 38-man squad for former England captain Owen Farrell, the son of Farrell.

Owen Farrell is barred from representing England after deciding to play his club rugby outside of the country at Paris-based Racing 92, and has suffered an injury-hit debut season in France.

Henry Pollock may be at the other end of the experience scale to Farrell but the Northampton back-row has become the latest 'bolter' to be included in a Lions squad.

The 20-year-old rising star only made his England debut in March, but came off the bench to score two tries during a 68-14 rout of Wales in Cardiff in the last round of the Six Nations.

Pollock has since underlined that form and produced a superb display for the Saints in their 37-34 victory away to Leinster in Dublin on Saturday.

The Lions have a game against Argentina in Dublin on June 20. They will have five tour games before the first test in Brisbane on July 19. The second and third Tests are on July 26 and August 2.

THE BRITISH AND IRISH LIONS SQUAD FOR THE TOUR OF AUSTRALIA

Forwards

Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby/Ireland), Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers/England), Jack Conan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks/England), Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors/ Scotland), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks/England), Ben Earl (Saracens/England), Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears/England), Maro Itoje (Saracens/England) - Captain, Ronan Kelleher (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), Joe McCarthy (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), Jac Morgan (Ospreys/Wales), Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints/England), Andrew Porter (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), James Ryan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby/Scotland), Dan Sheehan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), Will Stuart (Bath Rugby/England), Josh van der Flier (Leinster Rugby/Ireland).

Backs

Bundee Aki (Connacht Rugby/Ireland), Elliot Daly (Saracens/England), Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints/England), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), Mack Hansen (Connacht Rugby/Ireland), Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland), Hugo Keenan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse/Scotland), James Lowe (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints/England), Garry Ringrose (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), Finn Russell (Bath Rugby/Scotland), Fin Smith (Northampton Saints/England), Marcus Smith (Harlequins/ England), Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland), Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby/Scotland), Tomos Williams (Gloucester Rugby/Wales).

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The British & Irish Lions are set to unveil their squad for the upcoming tour of Australia. Photo: Getty Images
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